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TERRY'S 
TEXAS RANGERS 




BY 

L. B. GILES 



Copyright, 1911, by L. B. Giles 



C- CI.A'<!I)22(;5 



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CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER PAGE 

I, Assembly and Organization of the Regi- 
ment 12 

II. Woodsonville 20 

III. Eetreat 27 

IV. Shiloh 29 

V. Forrest at Murfreesboro 35 

VI. Many Marches and Skirmishes — The 

Kentucky Campaign 40 

VII. Murfreesboro . 49 

VIII. The Donelson Trip and Retreat to 

Chattanooga 53 

IX. Chickaniauga 58 

X. Wheeler's Great Raid 65 

XL East Tennessee Campaign 69 

XII. Sherman's Wagon Train and the 

Affairs with McCook and Stoneman.81 
XIII. Wheeler's Second Raid into Tennessee. . 86 

XIV. "The Rome Races" 90 

XV. The Last Campaign 94 

XVI. Conclusion 98 



INTEODUCTION. 

It is but natural that man should desire to 
leave some record of his achievements for the 
information of succeeding generations. This de- 
sire was manifested in the infancy of the race, 
and is shown in monuments and chiseled stone, 
and in writings on skins and reeds. 

Here in the South, when the great war of the 
'60s had terminated and the various actors in the 
great drama had time to look about them, the 
desire was universal that the record made by 
Southern manhood should be perpetuated. The 
regiment of Texas cavalry Imown as the "Terry 
Eangers'' shared that feeling; and when the sur- 
vivors began to meet in annual reunion this de- 
sire became manifest. Two propositions appealed 
to them : one for a history which should tell of 
their campaigns, their marches, battles, hardships, 
sufferings ; one for a monument which should con- 
tain the name of every man who served in the 
regiment. For reasons which I need not discuss 
here the plan for the history failed. All funds 
raised for either purpose wxre combined into one 
and placed in control of the monmnent committee. 
The equestrian statue which now stands in the 



6 Terry's Texas Rangers 

grounds of the State Capitol in Austin is the 
result. 

The desire for a narrative still survived, how- 
ever, discoverable in many personal sketches of 
events, some taking the form of memoirs^ written 
by various members of the command. I have 
long contemplated such a work but have felt the 
lack of ability. It is now perhaps too late to 
attempt anything like a complete history of the 
regiment, as the necessary data can hardly be 
procured. Yet, when my former comrade, D. S. 
Combs, appealed to me to write something that 
would supply his children and grandchildren with 
some knowledge, however imperfect, of the part 
borne by the Eangers in the great war, I unhesi- 
tatingly promised to try it and do the best I 
could. I wish with all my heart I could make 
my story as complete as it ought to be, for I 
firmly believe that a well written narrative of 
the regiment's wonderful career would be the 
most entertaining book in the literature of war. 

As a first step toward the accomplishment of 
the task T had undertaken, I wrote to Comrade 
Combs asking him for such data as he might 
have or such as his personal recollections might 
supply; also as to the scope and form of the work 
as he wished it to appear. His answer is so kind 



Terry's Texas Eangers 7 

and trusting that I here insert it and, as the law- 
yers say, make it a part of the record. His letter, 
written from his home in San Antonio, is dated 
January 5th: 

"My Dear Lee: 

"Yours of the 26th of December came duly to 
hand, and I should have replied sooner but I have 
been strictly on the go for the last ten days, and 
I have neglected many things that should have 
had attention. 

"Now, Lee, I wish to state with all the sincer- 
ity of my heart, that all I want is plain state- 
ments of facts; and while I give you a brief out- 
line of my movements, from the day I was sworn 
into the service of the Confederate States to the 
close of the war, I simply do this that you may 
know where D. S. Combs was, and it is a matter 
of indifference to me whether my name is men- 
tioned a single time in your story of the doings 
of the regiment, and, more especially, of the part 
old Company D played in that drama. 

"I was very fearful that the war would be over 
before I saw a live Yankee. So Charley McGehee 
and I went fifty miles from home to join a com- 
pany, and joined Ferrell's company between Bas- 
trop and La Grange. According to my recollec- 
tion thi^ was in the latter part of August, '61. 



8 Terry's Texas Kangers 

"From that da}^ to the day I left the regiment, 
I was not avray from Company D more than ten 
or twelve days, and then on account of sickness; 
once at Shelby ville for five or six days; at an- 
other time near Nolensville for about the same 
length of time. 

"My initiation was at Woodsonville, and the 
last of the chapter was at Mossy Creek, Dand- 
ridge, and the brick house where N. J. Allen was 
killed and the artillery duel where Captain Little- 
field was wounded. This, I think, was early in 
January, '64. Here I drew a furlough, and in 
company with Ike Jones, Bill Fisher and Jeff 
Burleson, I struck out for home. On my arrival 
at home my parents and sisters insisted that I 
ask for assignment to duty on this side of the 
Mississippi. I had lost one brother by sickness 
at Searcy, Arkansas, one had been killed at the 
battle of Chickamauga, one badly wounded at Port 
Hudson, and another desperately wounded at 
Mansfield, Louisiana. 

"Accordingly, I applied to General E. Kirby 
Smith for such assignment, and he gave me orders 
to report to General Magruder at Galveston for 
assignment to duty in any cavalry command I 
might select. I chose Colonel J. S. Ford's com- 
mand on the Eio Grande. I was attached to Cap- 



Terry's Texas Rangers 9 

tain Carrington's company in Major eater's bat- 
talion^ and was with that command in the last 
fight of the war. This was between Browns- 
ville and the mouth of the Rio Grande^ and was 
about two weeks after General Smith had sur- 
rendered the Trans-^Iississippi department^ but 
the word had not reached us. I am glad to say 
that in this last fight of the war the Confederate 
arms were victorious. A few days after this we 
got word that the war was over. So we folded 
our tents and quietly and sadly turned our faces 
homeward. As a company or battalion we never 
surrendered. We simply laid down our arms and 
tried to forget the past and all its disappoint- 
ments. 

"N'ow to go back and come over the story as 
it actually occurred, I will simply say that I was 
never wounded during the war, but particularly 
unfortunate with my mounts. I had three noble 
animals killed under me, two at Murfreesboro, 
one at College Hill, opposite Knoxville, also one 
wounded at Mt. Washington, near Louisville, Ken- 
tucky. 

"I was with you at Farmington and at Nolens- 
ville, where Ferg Kyle led his line of dismounted 
men, deployed as skirmishers, up against a solid 
line of blue, a regiment of infantry, who poured a 



10 Terry's Texas Rangers 

galling fire into our ranks and caused us to reel 
and stagger like a drunken man. 

"I was with you at Woodsonville, Shiloh, Mur- 
freesboro, Bardstown, Perryville and Chickamauga. 
Also at Murfreesboro when Forrest with his little 
band swooped dowm on the two camps and took 
them in out of the damp. 

^^Again, liCe, 1 will say that I wish you to 
handle the story in your own way, and 1 will be 
perfectly satisfied. What we want is the doings 
of the company and regiment. I care not for 
individual mention. If you and I are satisfied 
I care not whether others are or not. 

^'I wish to emphasize this statement. I appre- 
ciate more than you know your willingness to 
undertake this for me, and will gladly remuner- 
ate you as far as it is in my power to do for the 
time you put in on the work. 

"Mrs. Combs and I wish to thank you and your 
daughter for the kind hospitality to us during the 
reunion, and hope you may both find it conve- 
nient to visit us in the near future. Wishing you 
both a pleasant and prosperous New Year, I am, 
"Always yours, 

"D. S. Combs." 

If I had regretted my promise or had wavered 
in the slightest from my intention, this letter 



Terry's Texas E angers 11 

would have renewed in me the purpose to do my 
best. Yet I do not see why anyone who writes 
as well as Comrade Combs should desire another 
to write for him. I would not^ with intention, 
do injustice to anyone; I know I can not do jus- 
tice to many deserving the highest praise; but I 
must say that the regiment had no better soldier 
than D. S. Combs. 

Since this work was well under way Comrade 
A. B. Briscoe of Company K has kindly placed at 
my service a large lot of MS. of his personal me- 
moirs. I have used this in several instances, of 
which due credit is given in the proper places. 

Austin, May, 1911. 



CHAPTEE 1. 

ASSEMBLY AND ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. 

When in 1861 it became evident that war be- 
tween the sections was inevitable and imminent, 
B. F. Terry, a sugar planter of Fort Bend county, 
and Thomas S. Lubbock, of Houston, determined 
to be in the fight from the start, hurried to Vir- 
ginia, at their own expense^ where they partici- 
pated in the first battle of Manassas, rendering 
distinguished services as scouts before the action 
and in pursuit of the routed enemy afterward. 
Later the War Department gave them authority 
to recruit a regiment of Texans for mounted serv- 
ice in Virginia. Returning to Texas they at once 
issued a call for volunteers. 

The conditions were exacting. Each man must 
furnish liis own arms and equipment — a gun of 
some sort, Colt's repeating pistol, a saddle, bridle 
and blanket. NotwitJistanding these require- 
ments, the response was so prompt that in less 
than thirty days the ten companies were on their 
way to the rendezvous at Houston. Some of the 
companies had the full complement of one hun- 
dred men, rank and file, and in a few more days 
all would have been full. Probably two or more 



Terry's Texas Eangers 13 

regiments could have been raised at that time if 
the call had been made. 

The personnel was of the very highest. Sons 
of leading families, many of them college grad- 
uates, professional men^ merchants, stockmen, and 
farmers, served in the ranks as privates, all young, 
in their teens and early twenties. Rank was 
scarcely considered. The supreme desire was to 
get into the war in a crack cavalry regiment. 

Since I write without data and from memory- 
only, I must necessarily deal more particularly 
with the company of which I was a member, 
known as Company D in the regimental organiza- 
tion. It was recruited largely from Bastrop, with 
contingents from Hays, Travis and Burleson 
counties. This organization, full at the begin- 
ning, always one of the largest for duty, sustained 
the greatest loss in killed of all the companies of 
the regiment. The first officers elected were: 

Captain, Stephen C. Ferrell. 
First Lieutenant, Charles L. Morgan. 
Second Lieutenant, Jesse W. Burdett. 
Second Lieutenant, William R. Doak. 

The assembly for the company was to be in the 
town of Bastrop, and notice was given that on a 
certain morning the march would begin. The 



14 Terry's Texas Rangers 

men from the adjoining counties reached Bastrop 
the night before. 

It was a bright, sunny August morning. The 
people, en masse, turned out to bid us good-by. 
Men, women^ children, with tears in their eyes, 
said, "God bless you !" when they clasped our 
hands as we stood in line. This painful ordeal 
over, we mounted and rode away on what we be- 
lieved was a few months' adventure. 

Alleyton, sixty miles away, then the terminus of 
the railroad, was reached without any very excit- 
ing adventures. We sent our horses back home 
and took the train for Houston. The trains were 
then run to Harrisburg, but we were dumped off 
in the prairie at Pierce Junction to await a train 
from Columbia. The hours passed, and the night. 
We slept little on account of the mosquitoes, which 
\YQTQ more numerous and voracious than any I 
ever met elsewhere. Next morning, as there was 
still no train, we walked into Houston, a distance 
of nine miles, pushing by hand the freight car 
with our saddles and baggage. Here we went 
into camp in an old warehouse and met some of 
the other companies. . 

From McLennan and adjoining counties Cap- 
tain Thos. Harrison led a company wTiich became 
Company A. Captain John A. Wharton had a 



Terry's Texas Rangers 15 

full company raised chiefl}^ in Brazoria and Mata"'"-^ 
gorda counties. It became Company B in the 
organization and continued the largest in enlist- 
ment. Companies C, commanded by Mark Evans ; 
E, by L. N". Rayburn; and I, led by J. G. Jones, 
were recruited in Gonzales and surrounding coun- 
ties. Many of these were stockmen and expert 
horsemen. Company F was from Fayette and 
commanded by Louis M. Strobel. Company G 
was from Bexar and Goliad counties. Its first 
captain was W. Y. Houston. Company H was 
from Fort Bend county chiefly, and commanded 
by John T. Holt. Company K, Captain John G. 
Walker, was from Harris and Montgomery coun- 
ties, and was full. The word "chiefly" ought to 
be used in telling where the companies were re- 
cruited, for all of them had men from several 
counties. Here, too, on the 9th of September we 
were "mustered in," swearing to serve "so long as 
this war shall last." 

From Houston to Beaumont, over a newly con- 
structed railroad, it took nearly all day to make 
eighty miles. From Beaumont, by steamboat, 
down the Neches and up the Sabine to Nibletf s 
Blufl; thence a hundred miles on foot, through 
water much of the w^ay; thence forty miles in 



16 Terry's Texas Rangers 

carts. It is easy to remember this cart ride. The 
wheels were six or seven feet high. Motive power, 
oxen, two pairs to each cart. Engineers, little 
bow-legged Creoles, each armed with a long, sharp- 
pointed pole. The vehicles had no springs. As 
there were no seats, the six or eight passengers 
in each conveyance had to stand on their feet. At 
N'ew Iberia, on Bayou Teche, we were transferred 
to boats, and went down between the beautiful 
banks of that stream to Bra shear, now Morgan 
City. From there we went through an almost 
continuous sugar farm to New Orleans. The trip 
from Houston to New Orleans took over a week. 
It is now made in less than twelve hours, in a 
palace car. 

In New Orleans we learned that our destination 
was not Virginia, but Bowling Green, Kentucky, 
where General A. Sidney Johnston was trying to 
assemble an army for the defense of that frontier. 
This was pleasing to us, as General Johnston was 
a Texan, and personally known to many of us. 

The box cars in which we left New Orleans had 
been used for shipping cattle, and were not overly 
clean. Our seats were rough planks without 
backs. In this luxurious fashion we rode for 
twenty hours until we reached Nashville. There 



Terry's Texas Eangers 17 

we encamped in the fair grounds. Ladies in great 
numbers visited us, and for their entertainment 
our most expert horsemen gave the first really- 
truly ^"'wild-west" entertainment ever seen east of 
the Mississippi. 

At N'ashville our first death occurred, Thomas 
PTart, whose loss saddened us greatly. He was a 
promising 3^oung man, not personally well known 
to me. 

We had expected to receive our horses here 
and go on horseback to Bowling Green, but one 
night Colonel Terry received orders to bring on 
his regiment ^'at once." At 1 o'clock in the morn- 
ing we marched to the station and waited till 2 
p. m. for our train. That same afternoon we 
reached Bowling Green. Our horses were driven 
through from Nashville by a detail sent back after 
them. We now received tents, camp utensils and 
wagons. Here, too, the companies were formally 
organized into a regiment by the election of the 
following field officers: 

Colonel, B. F. Terry. 

Lieutenant Colonel, Thomas S. Lubbock. 

Major, Thomas Harrison. 

The following staff officers were appointed : 

Adjutant, M. H. Eoyston. 



18 Terry's Texas Rangers 

Quartermaster, B. H. Botts. 
Commissary, Eobert D. Simmons. 
Chaplain^ R. F. Bunting. 
Surgeon, Dr. John M. Weston. 
Assistant Surgeon, Dr. Eobert E. Hill. 
Sergeant Major, W. B. Sayers. 

Terry was a native of Kentucky, about 40 years 
old, of great force of character, firm and self- 
reliant. His appearance was commanding, and 
in all ways he was fitted for high rank. 

Lubbock was some years older than Terry. He 
was a native of South Carolina. He was small 
of stature, pleasant and affable, and made a favor- 
able impression on us. At that time he was in 
poor health, soon had to go to Nashville for treat- 
ment, and we never saw him more. 

Harrison was a native of Mississippi. He was 
a lawyer by profession. A small, nervous, iras- 
cible man, who proved to be a fine soldier, be- 
came a brigadier general of cavalry, and distin- 
guished himself on many fields. 

Winter was now at hand, and the climate was 
trying on young men raised, as we had been, in 
the far South. Many fell ill of measles, mumps, 
pneumonia, and other diseases peculiar to raw 
levees. Scores went to the hospital, and not a 



Terry^s Texas Rangers 19 

few under the sod. Still the spirits of all, from 
the youngest private to the resolute colonel^ were 
of the highest, and all were anxious to meet the 
foe. Such as were able drilled daily, mounted 
guard, and performed other duties incident to 
camp life in time of war. 



CHAPTER II. 

WOODSONVILLE. 

Terry, anxious to be doing something, was or- 
dered to lead the regiment to the front on picket 
and scouting duty. On the 17th of December, 
Brigadier General Hindman led an expedition to 
Greene river. When he reached that stream he 
found the north bank in possession of the enemy^s 
outposts. He deployed some infantry skirmish- 
ers, who engaged the enemy at long range but 
with little effect. Called himself from the imme- 
diate front, he left Colonel I'erry in change with 
instructions to decoy the enemy up the hill and 
away from support to a point where our infantry 
and artillery could be used to better advantage. 

The enemy allowed themselves to be decoyed, 
and came across in large numbers. Terry, how- 
ever, was not the man to invite visitors and then 
leave someone else to entertain them. Sending 
Ferrell with about seventy-five men against their 
left, he led the rest against their right. We 
charged, yelling, each man riding as fast as his 
horse could go. Terry fell, dying almost in- 
stantly. 

Ferrell led his force into an open field against 



Terry^s Texas Rangers 21 

a body of the enemy, who rallied behind a straw 
stack and such fences as they could find, pouring 
a galling fire into us. On our part it was a furi- 
ous but disorderly charge of comparatively un- 
drilled men into one of the best drilled regiments 
of the Federal army. This was the Thirty-second 
Indiana Infantry. The officers and men were 
Germans, who had probably learned their tactics 
in the old country. They were ignorant of the 
English language. They were brave fellows, and 
stood like veterans till shot down. 

In view of the great disparity of the forces en- 
gaged and the losses sustained, this was one of 
the most remarkable of all the conflicts of this 
very remarkable war. One of the very few ac- 
tions where mounted men engaged infantry on 
their own ground. It also shows of what stuff 
the Southern volunteer was made. In support of 
these statements I invite attention to the official 
reports. The first is by Colonel Willich. Omit- 
ting some unimportant details, it is as follows: 

"But now ensued the most earnest and bloody 
part of the struggle. With lightning speed, under 
infernal yelling, great numbers of Texas Rangers 
rushed upon our whole force. They advanced to 
fifteen or twenty yards of our lines, some of them 
even between them, and opened fire with rifles and 



22 Terry's Texas Eangers 

revolvers. Our skirmishers took the tiling very 
coolly^ and permitted them to approach very close, 
when they opened a destructive fire on them. 
They were repulsed with severe loss, but only after 
Lieutenant Sachs, who left his covered position 
with one platoon, was surrounded by about fifty 
Eangers, several of them demanding of him three 
times to give up his sword, and let his men lay 
down their arms. He firmly refused, and de- 
fended himself till he fell, with three of his men, 
before the attack was repulsed. 

"Lieutenant Colonel Von Trebra now led on 
another advance of the center and left flank, when 
he drew down upon his forces a second attack of 
the Eangers in large numbers, charging into the 
very ranks, some dashing through to the rear, 
which might have proved disastrous. 

"In the fight participated three field officers, 
one stafl! and sixteen officers of the line, twenty- 
three sergeants and 375 men. Our loss is one 
officer and ten men dead, twenty-two wounded 
and five missing. According to reports of our 
surgeons several of the wounded are beyond hope 
of recovery." 

I have omitted from the foregoing interesting 
and more or less instructive details of the parts 
played by Lieutenant Colonel Von Trebra, Major 



Terry's Texas Rangers 23 

Snaclienberg, Captain Wilchbilling, Adjutant 
Schmidt, Lieutenant Mank and other heroes 
whose names are hard to spell and harder to pro- 
nounce. Valiant men all, and all doubtless rec- 
ommended for promotion. As will be seen here- 
after, to fight with the Rangers was to be in line 
of advancement in this world or the next. 

I now give General Hindman's report from the 
Confederate side: 

"The hring ceased for about half an hour, and 
I went in person to select a suitable place for 
camp, leaving Colonel Terry in command, with 
instructions to decoy the enemy up the hill, where 
I could use my infantry and artillery with effect, 
and be out of the range of the enemy's batteries. 

"Before returning to the column the fire from 
the skirmishers recommenced. The enemy ap- 
peared in force on my right and center. Colonel 
Terry, at the head of seventy- five Rangers, charged 
about 300 of the enemy, routed and drove them 
back, but fell mortally wounded. A body of the 
enemy about the same size attacked the Rangers 
under Captain Ferrell on the right of the turn- 
pike, and were repulsed with heavy loss.* 

*Attack was really made by Ferrell on the enemy, 
advancing under command of Von Trebra, as Colonel 
Willich reports. — G. 



24 TERRY^s Texas Rangers 

"My loss in this affair was as follows: Killed, 
Colonel Terry and three men of his regiment; 
dangerously wounded. Lieutenant Morris and 
three men of the Texas Rangers; slightly wound- 
ed, Captain Walker and three men of the Texas 
Rangers and two men of the First Arkansas bat- 
talion." 

From General Hindman's report it will be seen 
that the Rangers had 150 men in the fight, sev- 
enty-five with Terr}^, seventy-five with Ferrell; 
there being, in fact, two charges. Our loss was 
twelve altogether. Colonel Willich reported that 
he had, officers and men, 418 engaged. He had 
eleven killed, twenty-two wounded and reported 
five missing, a total of thirty- eight ; his missing 
being prisoners in our hands. Thus 150 men 
charged 418, inflicting a loss of thirty-eight, sus- 
taining a loss of twelve. Of this number Com- 
pany D lost five: W. W. Beal and Frank Loftin 
killed, L. L. Giles mortally wounded, L. B. Giles 
and John R. Henry slightly wounded. . 

If a complete record could be obtained I believe 
a similar disparity of losses would appear in 
nearly all the engagements in which we bore a 
part. The splendid ' horsemanship of our men, 
and their skill with firearms, made them easily 
superior to any foe they went against. In this 



Terry's Texas Eangers 25 

fight our loss was irreparable in the death of our 
gallant leader. Had he lived he would, without 
doubt, have reached the highest rank and would 
have achieved a fame second to none. We had 
other brave leaders, but none like the matchless 
Terry. 

In the election of officers which followed the 
death of Terry, Lieutenant Colonel Lubbock 
was advanced to the command of the regiment, 
and Captain John G. Walker became lieutenant 
colonel. Lubbock, who was at that time in bad 
health, died a few days later. Captain John A. 
"^^Hiarton was chosen to fill his place. 

Wharton was a man of ability, of a distin- 
guished family, liberally educated, a lavsryer and 
a captivating public speaker. Enterprising and 
ambitious, he never forgot during a wakeful mo- 
ment that the soldier who survived the war would 
be a voter. He distinguished himself on many 
fields and became, successively, brigadier general 
and major general. 

About this time Lieutenant Morgan of Com- 
pany D resigned and Fergus Kyle was elected 
first lieutenant. Kyle was subsequently promoted 
to captain, and made a very efficient officer, dis- 
tinguishing himself on many fields. 

The regiment now resumed its duty of guaxd- 



26 Terry's Texas Eangers 

ing the front. The weather was cold, varied with 
rain, sleet and snow. The men suffered greatly. 
Some suffering, as to the weather, I escaped, hav- 
ing received a slight wound. I was sent to the 
hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, where I stayed 
tw-o days, going from there to the home of a rela- 
tive, where I spent nearly seven weeks. In the 
care of my kindred I had all the comforts and 
some of the luxuries of life. I reported for duty 
just before the retreat from Bowling Green. 

The burial squad informed me that my poor 
horse, who received some of the lead intended for 
his master, and yet had no personal interest in 
the row, had five bullet wounds. He fell under 
me near the straw stacks. I rode off the field 
behind John B. Eector, who halted in a shower of 
bullets and kindly assisted me to mount. 



CHAPTER III. 

RETREAT. 

The word is not reassuring to seasoned soldiers. 
To new troops it is very depressing. Johnston^s 
line was broken on the right at Fishing Creek, 
and was threatened on the left at Donelson. Bowl- 
ing Green was, therefore, untenable, and now we 
must fall back behind the Cumberland. 

The Rangers must cover the retreat. It was 
snowing the morning we left^ and the enemy 
were throwing shells into the place. Our march 
to Nashville was without incident. We crossed 
the Cumberland in the night and camped just 
outside the city. We now learned that Donelson 
had fallen, and the retreat must be continued. 
We were ordered down toward Donelson to guard 
in that direction, and to afford succor to such as 
had escaped the surrender and might be making 
their way south. 

Returning, we found the army at Murfreesboro, 
but it moved on by Shelbyville, Huntsville and 
Decatur to Corinth, Mississippi, the Rangers 
guarding the rear. The weather was bad and the 
progress slow, but the enemy did not press us. 
We crossed the Tennessee river on the railroad 



28 Terry's Texas Eangers 

bridge, which had been floored for the purpose. 
When we went into camp rations of bacon and 
flour wore issued to us. Our wagons and camp 
equipment being somewhere else, we were con- 
fronted with the problem of preparing this flour 
for the immediate consumption of the chronically 
hungry soldier. If necessity is the mother of in- 
vention, hunger is a most capable handmaid of 
the good dame. An oilcloth is spread on the 
ground, and on this the flour is kneaded, but how 
to bake it was the question. Some rolled the 
dough around a stake or ramrod, which they stuck 
in the ground by the fire, but the stuff would slip 
down. Some of us tried a flat rail, and that 
answered very well. First heating the rail thor- 
oughl}^, we stuck our biscuits on it, set them be- 
fore the fire, and watched them brown, our appe- 
tites growing keener all the while. The treatment 
of the bacon was easy. We broiled it on a stick 
held before the fire or above the coals, and that 
is the best way it was ever cooked. 

At Corinth we had a few days' rest. Absentees 
came in, and the morale improved. 

Biiell did not follow our line of march, but 
moved by the more direct route through Franklin, 
Columbus and Pulaski, intending to unite with 
Grant at Pittsburg Landing. 



CHAPTEE IV. 

SHILOH, 

Johnston planned to attack Grant before the 
arrival of Buell, and had brought together the 
largest army ever before assembled in the Confed- 
eracy. He had the force under General Hardee 
from Bowling Green^ the remnant of Zollicoffer's 
army, Bragg from Pensacola with a fine corps of 
well drilled and well equipped troops, and Polk 
from Columbus with a light force, altogether 
nearly 40,000 men. They were to attack an army 
of veterans flushed Avith the victory at Donelson. 

Johnston ordered the army to move on the 
morning of April 3, but some of the troops did 
not get away until that afternoon. It was said 
that this delay was due to the inexperience of 
both staff and men. Johnston had intended to 
attack on the 5th, but the arm}^, delayed by the 
bad roads, did not arrive in time. Thus we lost 
twenty-four fateful hours — twenty-four hours of 
as precious time as was ever lost in war. 

Our regiment reached the front on the 4th and 
was ordered to guard the left wing of tlie army. 
In detachments we guarded every road, trail and 
opening around the whole left front and flank. 



30 Terry's Texas Rangers 

with strict orders that none of ns be allowed to 
sleep at all. Soon after nightfall it began to rain. 
It poured down in torrents, and the night was 
pitch dark. Whether in the saddle, on post or in 
camp, we could hardly have slept in that down- 
pour. It was a long, dreary night, but morning, 
a bright spring morning, came at last. 

The regiment assembled once more, very wet 
and uncomfortable. Our arms, too, were wet and, 
fearing they would fail us in action, we implored 
Colonel Wharton to let us fire them off. With 
no thought of possible consequences he consented. 
Pointing to a wooded hillside^ he said : 

"Go off there and shoot." 

We discharged all the firearms we had. , It 
sounded like a brisk skirmish. The colonel was 
immediately summoned to headquarters. Camp 
rumor said that his interview with his superiors 
was rather stormy^ that he was severely repri- 
manded. It is a fact that on his return he made 
us a speech, telling us that by yielding to our im- 
portunities he had committed a serious blunder 
which ])ad subjected him to unfavorable criticism 
by persons in the higher military circles. He 
seemed to be much perturbed mentally. He asked 
us to wipe out the stain by our gallant behavior 
in the coming engagement; asked us to ride fur- 



Terry's Texas Rangers 31 

ther into the enemy's ranks than any other regi- 
ment. I think most of ns audibly promised to do 
what he asked; and we kept the promise as far 
as circumstances would permit^ as will be seen. 

The whole army had arrived by Saturday after- 
noon. Early Sunday morning, April 6th, the for- 
ward movement began. The enemy were either 
in bed or preparing breakfast, and were taken by 
surprise. I know the surprise has been denied 
by so eminent a person as General Grant, but as 
he was sleeping at Savannah, nine miles away, 
he is hardly a competent witness. Thousands of 
us saw camp kettles and coffeepots on the fires, 
beds just as the occupants had left them, blankets 
spread and clothing strewn about. 

It is not my purpose to describe the battle of 
Shiloh. I wish merely to speak of some principal 
incidents. It was a continuous advance of the 
Confederates nearly all of the day, Sunday. The 
roar of big guns and the rattle of musketry was 
unceasing. 

The Rangers were kept in column just in the 
rear of the left wing, and had no part in the con- 
flict till late in the day, when our eagerness to 
take part in the fight was gratified by an order 
to clear our extreme left, and assail the enemy, 
who was then retiring through thick woods. 



32 Terry's Texas Rangers 

We had to cross a muddy branch. At first two 
abreast could get over, but it soon became so bad 
that only one at a time could cross, and then it 
was a good long jump for a horse. Not half of 
the regiment was over when the leading files 
rushed up the hill through a small open field. 
Turning to the right they came to a high rail 
fence behind which was a line of blue. From 
this line came a most destructive fire which 
emptied many saddles. John Crane of Company 
D was killed. Clint Terry, a new arrival, brother 
of our former colonel, fell mortally wounded. 

We were too few to make any impression, al- 
though some of our men dismounted and began 
throwing down the fence. A few even crossed 
into the wood. The firing was so hot that we 
beat a hasty retreat in spite of the appeals of 
Colonel Wharton and other officers, who did all 
they could to stop our flight. We didn't stop 
until we were out of range, when we re-formed at 
once. Thus our second encounter with the enemy 
met with a repulse. I may say, however, that this 
charge, if it be proiX!r to call it a charge, was not 
without good results to our cause. Several years 
since I received a letter from Colonel Chisholm, 
who was then on the staffs of General Beauregard. 
He wrote that it was he who led the regiment in 



Terry's Texas Eangers 33 

that advance; that the object of it was to detain 
the enemy until other troops could be brought up ; 
that for this purpose the movement was meas- 
urably successful. 

That afternoon we learned with sorrow of the 
death of General Johnston. This we then re- 
garded as a great calamity, and time has not 
changed our opinion. 

We were not engaged again that day. We 
spent the night on the battlefield, amid the dead 
of the enemy, subsisting ourselves and our horses 
from the abundant supplies on every hand. 
Though it rained another downpour, and though 
w^e had no shelter, we slept as only tired soldiers 
can. 

Keinforced by Buell's 40,000, the enemy as- 
sumed the offensive next day. The Confederates 
only resisted, as best they could, to get off their 
wounded, their trains and artillery, over muddy 
roads. The Eangers were dismounted to aid in 
resisting the forward movement, losing several 
men. John H. Washington of Company D was 
shot through the hips and left on the field for 
dead; but under the care of Federal surgeons he 
recovered, and is living today. 

Tuesday, the 8tli, two companies of the Eang- 
ers, under Major Harrison^ with part of Forrest's 



34 Terry's Texas Rangers 

men^ all under the command of Forrest, made a 
brilliant charge on a mounted force of the enemy, 
believed to be a large escort of a general officer, 
and ran them back to the main force of infantry. 

The pursuit now ceased and, Avithout further 
molestation, we returned to Corinth. Here we 
remained two or three weeks, and received some 
recruits, the first since leaving Texas. Company 
D got six, T. A. W. Hill, William and A. J. Kyle, 
George T. McGehee, T. M. Rector and S. M. 
Watkins. They were quite an addition to our 
force. All were fine soldiers and continued to 
the end. There was much sickness, caused by bad 
water. Everybody was anxious for more active 
service. 

The regiment was now ordered into Tennessee. 
Crossing the river at Lamb's Ferry, we captured 
a detachment of the enemy, guarding a railroad 
bridge, after a hot fight, in which we lost several 
men. Captain Harris of Company I was killed; 
also William DeWoody of Company D. There 
is one incident of this affair which I shall never 
forget. Among our prisoners was a captain of 
an Ohio regiment. He had six bullet wounds in 
his body. He sat up in the beat as we crossed the 
river, and walked unassisted up the hill on the 
other side. 



CHAPTEE V. 

FOREEST AT MIIRFREESBORO. 

We were now ordered to Chattanooga. Here 
we were placed in a brigade under the command 
of Colonel N. B. Forrest. At this time but little 
was known of this great soldier. He had not 
then become famous, and there were not wanting 
officers of high rank who predicted disaster as the 
result of his operations. Without the advantages 
of education, he possessed strong common sense, 
unfaltering courage, energy that never flagged, 
and unbounded confidence in himself. Under his 
leadership our metal was not to grow rusty for 
lack of employment. 

Setting out from C-hattanooga on the 8th of 
July, we crossed the Tennessee river and the Cum- 
berland mountains into middle Tennessee. On 
the 11th we reached McMinnville and remained 
until the afternoon of the 12th. Here Forrest 
made his regimental commanders acquainted with 
his plans. His objective was Murfreesboro, over 
forty miles away, garrisoned by a force of the 
enemy estimated at 2000 men, under the com- 
mand of Brigadier General Crittenden. 

Late in the afternoon we started for an all nia:ht 



36 Terry's Texas Rangers 

ride. At Woodbury we halted and fed our horses, 
resuming the march at midnight. We reached 
the vicinity of Murfreesboro at daylight on 
the 13th. 

]^row occurred one of those unfortunate blun- 
ders which often mar the best laid plans ; probably 
made by Forrest himself. Colonel Wharton with 
tlie Eangers was to attack a camp of the enemy on 
the Liberty pike north of town. Forrest, who had 
been riding at the head of the column, turned 
aside to allow us to pass. A¥hen six companies 
had gone by he fell in with his staff and escort. 
Thus it happened that nearly half of the regi- 
ment followed Forrest into the town and out to 
the westward. The courthouse was gaiTisoned 
by a company of the N"inth Michigan Infantry, 
who poured a hot fire into our ranks from the 
windows. Forrest and the Rangers rode on, but 
the sou7id of firing had aroused the good ladies 
from their beds; looking out they saw the dear 
defenders of their cause. Without taking time 
for very elaborate toilets, they rushed into the 
streets just as the Georgians came up. Pointing 
to the courthouse, they begged them to attack the 
hated foe. With a "Hurrah for the women !" 
Iliese perfectly green troops dismounted, broke 



Tekry's Texas Eangers 37 

down the doors, and captured the garrison, but 
with severe loss. 

When Forrest discovered that he had with him 
only a handful of Eangers, he turned back to look 
after the rest of his command. Captain Ferrell, 
now the ranking officer, led us through the sub- 
urbs of the town towards the right, or north 
where he thought to find the regiment. While 
we were passing through a field of standing corn, 
the artillery of the enemy opened on us at short 
range. The first shot struck William Slmll of 
Company G, taking off both legs and passing 
through his horse, killing both instantly. 

We found the main part of the regiment about 
half a mile east of the town, on the road by which 
we had come. They had made a spirited attack 
on the enemy, but were too weak to get any favor- 
able results, and had retired, Wharton being 
wounded. As soon as the regiment was united 
Wharton sent the adjutant, M. H. Eoyston, and 
ten men to report to Forrest for orders. I was 
of this party. We found Forrest in the town. He 
spoke with some show of irritation: 

"Tell him to bring his men up here." 

During all this time he had been attacking the 
enemy with the forces at hand, but there was 
little result of a decisive nature. 



38 Terey's Texas Eangers 

Some of his chief officers had advised him to 
be content with what he had already accomplished 
and withdraw; but he was not of the withdrawing 
kind. Preparing for a final assault, when the 
Eangers came up, he delayed the attack long 
enough to send a demand for surrender to the 
camp of the Michigan regiment. This was 
promptly agreed to. He now sent a like demand 
to the Third Minnesota. Colonel Lester of that 
regiment asked for an hour's time and an oppor- 
tunity to consult with Colonel Duffield. This 
officer was seriously wounded. Forrest allowed 
half an hour and the privilege of the interview. 
As Lester was going to the room of Colonel Duf- 
field opportunity was given .him to see our 
strengtli. When the half hour was up he sur- 
rendered his entire force. 

The troops surrendered consisted of fifteen com- 
panies of infantry, six of the Ninth Michigan and 
nine of the Third Minnesota; seven companies of 
cavalry^ four of the Fourth Kentucky and three 
of the Seventh Pennsylvania; and two sections 
(four guns) of Hewett's battery: in all 1765 
men. 

The brigade commander, General Crittenden, 
was found hiding in a room at a tavern. 

The spoil was immense; a large number of 



Terry's Texas Rangers 39 

wagons, with military stores and equipment of 
all sorts. 

The merits of this enterprise are very great, but 
it must be admitted that had the enemy all been 
together, under a resolute commander, they could 
have beaten us. They had nearly 1800 men of 
all arms, infantry, cavalry and artillery — a min- 
iature army — while Forrest had a little over 1300 
men, some of them absolutely green troops. 

In regard to this affair^ General Buell, com- 
manding the department, published a very caus- 
tic order, of which a short extract is here given: 

'^Take it in all its features, few more disgrace- 
ful examples of neglect of duty and lack of good 
conduct can be found in the history of wars. It 
fully merits the extreme penalty which the law 
provides for such conduct. The force was more 
than sufficient to repel the attack effectually." 



CHAPTEE VI. 

MANY MARCHES AND SKIRMISHES THE KEN- 
TUCKY CAMPAIGN. 

We rested at McMinnville three or four days, 
and then started a hard ride with little rest for 
Lebanon, a distance of fifty miles, intending to 
surprise and capture a force of 500 cavalry sta- 
tioned there. On the morning of the 20th we 
dashed into the place, but the enemy had been 
warned and had left in a hurry for Nashville. 

We remained one day and night in this beauti- 
ful little city, recipients of the unbounded hospi- 
tality of its splendid people. They fed us on poul- 
try, roast pig^ ham, cakes and pies like "mother 
used to make/' and filled our haversacks for the 
march. 

From Lebanon our route was by "The Hermi- 
tage," so long the home of Andrew Jackson. Here 
a short halt was made, and many of the men visited 
the house and grounds. Mounting, we moved on to 
Stone river, seven miles from Nashville, where a 
small picket force was captured. Thence we crossed 
over to the Murfreesboro turnpike, only four miles 
from the city, and destroyed four railroad bridges, 
capturing the guards — in all about 120 men. 



Terry^s Texas Ran^gers 41 

We then turned off in the direction of Lebanon, 
and camped for the night after riding for a few 
miles; here we paroled our prisoners. Passing 
around Murfreesboro we marched to McMinnville, 
where we rested till the 10th of August. 

We then advanced to the line of railroad, cap- 
tured the pickets and burned a few bridges. The 
enemy had now begun to erect stockades for their 
guards at the bridges. There was one not yet 
finished, and Forrest tried to capture it but failed. 
Captain Houston of Company G was killed in 
this attack. 

Moving in the direction of Altamont we camped 
in a cove near the mountain. The enemy ad- 
vanced in force on all the roads. We had to take 
the dry bed of a creek which ran parallel to one 
of the roads on which the enemy was advancing. 
We traveled in this creek a mile or two, and then 
emerged into the open. A battery of the enemy, 
on the McMinnville road, not more than 600 
yards away, opened fire upon us. The very best 
of troops, who will charge anything, are often 
thrown into a panic by an attack from an unex- 
pected quarter. We broke into a run and were 
soon out of range, though in considerable dis- 
order. 

Marching leisurely to Sparta, we joined forces 



42 Terry's Texas Rangers 

with Bragg's army, tlien on the move into Ken- 
tucky. Forrest was ordered to guard the left 
flank and harass the rear of the enemy in his re- 
treat to Nashville. We came up to their rear 
guard at Woodbury, and chased them clear Tip 
to Murfreesboro, but could only run them through 
the place. 

Bragg soon moved by Glasgow and on to Mum- 
fordsville, getting in ahead of Buell and on his 
line of march. He had a strong position^ but for 
some unaccountable reason turned off and let the 
Federal army pass on to Louisville. Forrest kept 
on the left and in close touch with the enemy till 
the army turned aside, when we went on to the 
vicinity of Louisville. Forrest was now relieved 
and ordered to Tennessee, and Colonel John A. 
Wharton was placed in command of the brigade. 
We kept close up to Louisville, in observation of 
the enemy's movements. Had a small but spirited 
skirmish at Mt. Washington, as related in the in- 
ti'oduction. 

Early in October Buell began to move with 
some vigor. An enterprising brigade of cavalry 
got between us and our main army. They took 
position at Bardstownand thus we were "cut off." 
When intelligence of this move reached Wharton 
he called in his outposts, threw his command into 



Terry's Texas Eangers 43 

column, Eangers in front, Company D leading. 
At a gallop we started for the seat of trouble. 
The enemy had chosen a strong position at the 
mouth of the lane in which we were traveling, 
and had their courage been equal to their enter- 
prise the}^ could have given us a warm entertain- 
ment. When we came in sight of them our bugle 
sounded the charge and we Went at them as fast 
as our horses could carry us. They broke almost 
at once, firing only a few shots. It was now a 
chase for miles. We caught over 200 of them, 
and strewed the woods with" their dead and 
wounded. General George H. Thomas, of the 
Federal army^ says they lost about "twenty killed 
and wounded, and a great many missing"; these 
"missing" were our prisoners. Our loss was small 
— I can not recall the casualties. It was one of 
the softest snaps in the way of a fight that we 
had during the war. 

Some amusing incidents nearly always occur, 
but the laughter rarely takes place till all danger 
is past. After the long chase we, as well as the 
enemy, were very much scattered. John B. Eector 
seeing a lone Federal, rushed up and demanded 
his surrender. "Surrender yourself," replied the 
man, leveling his pistol. Now Hector had dis- 
charged every chamber of his pistol and promptly 



44 Terry's Texas Rangers 

complied. Just then Bill Davis dashed up. He 
was a large, fierce looking man, on a powerful 
horse not less than sixteen and a half hands high. 

He broke out, "John, why the don't you 

disarm that Yankee?" "I am a pris- 
oner myself. Bill." Quick as a flash Davis was 
at the fellow's side and bringing his pistol against 
his head broke out, "Give up them pistols, you 
blue-bellied ." The shoot- 
ing irons were promptly handed over and the 
prisoner escorted to the rear. 

In the language of the great American game it 
was pure "bluff" all around for all the firearms 
were empty, but Bill Davis was always loaded to 
the muzzle with quick firing profanity which he 
could discharge in rattling volleys on the slight- 
est provocation. I am glad to say, however, that 
he no longer goes loaded thus, for he has been 
a strict churchman for several years. 

General Bragg published a general order highly 
laudatory of the Rangers for this affair, but I 
have foimd no record of it. It was read to the 
regiment and complimented us in high terms. 

Bragg's army was widely dispersed, gathering 
supplies in that fertile' section. Buell was press- 
ing him, and to get time for concentration, and 



Terry's Texas Eangers 45 

to get his train out of the way, we made a stand 
at Perryville, where, on the 8th of October, was 
fought one of the fiercest combats of the war. 
Fourteen thousand Confederates kept at bay for 
nearly two days the immense army of the enemy, 
but with heavy loss to both sides. Wharton's 
brigade held the extreme right and did a full 
share of the fighting. Among our killed was 
Major Mark Evans of the Eangers. Captain Fer- 
rell of Company D succeeded him, and Lieuten- 
ant Kyle of Company D became captain. 

I was in the battle of Perryville, not with 
the regiment, but in a small detachment on the 
left while the Eangers were on the right. Hence 
I avail myself of the description of "Perryville" 
given by A. B. Briscoe, who kindly placed his 
"Personal Memoirs" at my service. 

"The enemy was on the west side of the creek 
and our army on the east. The valley between 
was open field and the tops of the hills covered in 
places with timber. It was an ideal battlefield; 
there were no breastworks, but the hills on both 
sides were crowned with artillery. Polk was in 
command of the Confederate forces and expected 
the enemy to attack and waited for them until 
about 2 p. m. In the meantime the artillery was 



4-6 Terry's Texas Eangers 

making the very earth tremble with a duel of 
nearly 100 guns. We lay in a little valley a few 
hundred yards to the rear, partially sheltered from 
this storm of shells. At 2 p. m. we were moved 
in column through the lines of infantry and the 
smoking batteries to the front. The open valley 
was before us with a deep creek spanned by a 
wooden bridsre. Down we charo:ed in column of 
fours across the bridge. After crossing, each 
squadron formed left front into line, which made 
us present five lines, one behind the other, and in 
this order we charged up the hill, into the woods 
and among the Yankees. This whole movement 
was m.ade in a sweeping gallop and as if on 
parade. How different from the way we were 
handled at Shiloh ! The Yankees were brushed 
back from the hill and woods and when the bugle 
sounded the recall and we returned, our own in- 
fantry and artillery had crossed the creek and 
were taking position on the hills from which we 
had driven the enemy. But again Ave had lost 
our commander, the gallant Lieutenant Colonel 
Mark Evans, who fell mortally wounded at the 
head of the regiment." 

I have copied this literally, but I am of the 
opinion that Evans was only major. 



Terry's Texas Bangers 47 

Bragg had secured the needed tirae. He now 
started for Cnmberland Gap, leaving the cavalry 
to protect his rear and retard, as best they conld, 
the onward march of the enemy. Colonel Joseph 
Wheeler was made chief of cavalry and had com- 
mand of all in the rear. The country was tim- 
bered, broken, not very fertile, affording little in 
the way of food for man or beast. We had to 
form line and skirmish several times a day. The 
service was very trying. For more than a week 
there was no order to unsaddle. 

At last Buell gave up the pursuit and started 
to Nashville. We went on through Cumberland 
Gap to Knoxville, where we had a snowstorm. 
From Knoxville, by Kingston and over the moun- 
tains^ we went to Sparta, Murfreesboro and No- 
lensville. At N"olensville we had a position on 
the left of the army. Here some promotions were 
announced. Colonel Wharton became a brigadier 
general, his commission dating from tiie Bards- 
town fight, the 4th of October. Harrison became 
colonel, Ferrell, lieutenant colonel, and Gustave 
Cook, major. Ferrell was soon compelled to re- 
sign on account of bad health. Cook then became 
lieutenant colonel and S. Pat Christian, major. 
In Company D, Dechard became first lieutenant 
and W. R. Black, second lieutenant. 



48 Terry's Texas Eangers 

We remained at Nolensville nearly two months, 
picketing and scouting. We passed our second 
Christmas^ a serious and sober set, thinking of 
the homes and loved ones far away, and wonder- 
ing if we should ever see them again. 



CHAPTER VII. 

MURFREESBORO. 

The enemy did not allow us much time for 
repining. Promptly on the 26th they moved out 
in force. We were sent forward to develop their 
strength. The regiment, under the command of 
Captain Kyle, was drawn up in a field and dis- 
mounted. Our leader conducted us over a high 
rail fence into an open wood of cedar trees. We 
went along listening to his encouraging words 
until we reached the top of a slight rise. Just 
over the crest was a solid line of infantry lying 
down. Kyle at once ordered a retreat. At least 
that's what he meant, though the words he actu- 
ally used are not in the manual. He- said: 

'^Get out of here, men ! There's a whole bri- 
gade !" 

We understood him and so did the Yankees, 
who sprang to their feet and delivered a volley, 
doing little damage. The high fence had not 
seemed a serious obstacle as we went in, but when 
I got back to it on the return, with bullets striking 
it like hail on a roof, it looked very formidable. 
I sprang up on it and just fell off on the other 
side. When I got up the command was moving 



50 Terry's Texas Eangers 

olf rapidly. I had started to the rear as soon as 
the others, but they outran me, and I didn't 
"throw" tlie race either. I turned to the left, 
down the line of fence^ climbed another, and was 
now reasonably safe but nearly exhausted. I had 
still to go half a mile before I reached the com- 
mand. My saddle felt mighty good and restful. 

It was now plain that it w^as a general advance 
of the enemy, and Bragg prepared for the battle 
of Murfreesboro, whither we now marched 
promptly. In the line Wharton's brigade occu- 
pied the left. When the ball opened in earnest 
he led this command around the right of the 
enem3^'s line, and within 600 yards of Eosecrans' 
headquarters attacked and captured a wagon train 
going to the rear. We could not hold it long; 
but we captured a four-gun battery and held on 
to that; moved down toward Nashville and ran 
into the train again. 

In these operations Company D lost two killed, 
Sam Friedberger and Wayne Hamilton. Kenner 
Eector was wounded. John W. Hill and P. J. 
Watkins were made prisoners. Hill's horse was 
killed as we were retiring before superior numbers. 
He was away three or four months, and greatly 
missed, for he was a good one. 

After a strenuous day of it, with a good many 



Terry's Te5L4s E angers 51 

prisoners and the four gims^ we returned to the 
army and were sent to the right, taking position 
on the right of Breckenridge's line. We saw that 
gallant officer and his splendid division move for- 
ward through an open field with the precision of 
parade, under a furious cannonading from the 
Federal batteries strongly posted in a cedar wood. 
The shells plowed great gaps through their ranks. 
When the colors fell other hands seized them and 
bore them onward. When they reached the posi- 
tion of the enemy they wavered and began to give 
way, in order at first, but as they retreated under 
a distressing fire of artillery and musketry, they 
broke into a run. We stood there and could not 
help them, although every man of us would have 
gone to their aid with a whoop. 

This charge deserves to rank with Malvern 
Hill, Franklin, and other useless sacrifices of life. 
Like the charge of the light brigade, "it was mag- 
nificent, but it was not war." 

This w^as Bragg's final effort, and he withdrew 
from the contest. The only tactics he seems to 
have learned was to wait till the enemy came up 
to his lines and fortified himself; then attack and 
lose more men than the enemy, then sneak away. 
ITe had heard somewhere that "he who fights and 
runs away may live to fight another day." 



52 Terry's Texas Rangers 

Bragg stopped at Shelbyville. Rosecrans was 
content to stay at Murfreesboro, begging his gov- 
ernment for more cavalry; nor did he feel safe 
in advancing till lie had a large addition to his 
mounted force. 

We took position on the left of the army, pick- 
eting and scouting the front, with occasional skir- 
mishes and reconnoissances. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE DON^ELSON TRIP AND RETREAT TO CHAT- 
TANOOGA. 

Just who conceived this wild-goose chase, I am 
not informed. For suffering, hardships, and bar- 
renness of results, it is only exceeded by Napo- 
leon's Russian campaign. On the 25th of Jan- 
uar}^, General Wheeler, in command of the bri- 
gades of Wharton and Forrest, took up the line 
of march for Dover, or Fort Donelson. I do not 
know how to describe the weather, except in the 
language of the gTammar on the comparison of 
adjectives : cold, colder^ coldest. We crossed one 
little stream fifteen or twenty times in one day. 
The water froze on the legs of our horses until 
they were encased in ice above the knees; their 
tails were solid chunks of ice, while we had to 
walk to keep warm. Men and horses suffered 
intensely. 

When we reached the vicinity of Dover, For- 
rest reported to Wheeler that he had but a scant 
supply of ammunition; and investigation disclosed 
the fact that Wliarton's brigade was little better 
off in this regard. Forrest did not hesitate to 
advise withdrawail of our forces without attempt 
at action, but Wheeler determined to proceed. 



54 Terry's Texas Rangers 

Forrest attacked from the north and east, car- 
ried the enemy's outer works, and drove them into 
the redoubts, but with great loss of life. His am- 
munition was now exhausted, and he was com- 
pelled to fall back. Wharton attacked from the 
Donelson side, and captured one brass field gun, 
but he, too, was compelled to retire because his 
ammunition was running low. The Eangers had 
been sent out on the Fort Henry road before these 
operations were begun and so had no part in the 
assault. 

Jordan, in his "Life of Forrest," says: 

"The Confederate losses were heavy- Forrest 
liad one-fourth of his force, or 200 of his officers 
and men killed, wounded and captured, and Whar- 
ton's casualties did not fall short of sixty killed 
and wounded." 

'Now the retreat began. All the command, ex- 
cept the Rangers, practically out of ammunition. 
The weather did not moderate. The second or 
third night a report reached Wheeler that a heavy 
column of the enemy, cavalry and infantry, under 
General Jeff C. Davis, had left Nashville to head 
him off. About midnight we were ordered to sad- 
dle up. It was so cold that if we touched a gun- 
barrel or bridle bit our hands stuck to the metal, 



Terry's Texas Rangers 55 

and we had to put those bits into the mouths of 
our poor horses. 

AYe reached Duck river about daylight, and 
found it bank full, the surface covered with float- 
ing ice. After some search a ford was found and 
we crossed to the south side. As Davis' comnumd 
did not show up, we went into camp and warmed 
ourselves a little. After a rest of a day or two 
we moved leisurely back to our old position. 

I do not know what could have been accom- 
plished by this expedition beyond the capture of 
a small garrison. Certainly the suffering and the 
losses of men and horses were very great. For a 
long time when the men wanted to reach the 
superlative of suffering they spoke of the Donel- 
son trip. 

In April we moved over to the right and 
camped a few days at Sparta. The regiment cap- 
tured a mail train between Murfreesboro and 
Nashville, getting about a dozen officers. Tlie 
men rifled the mail sacks and amused themselves 
reading the letters of the Yankees. They ob- 
tained also a considerable amount of greenbacks; 
also a silver-mounted pistol, said to belong to 
General Rosecrans. My horse was lame and so 
I missed this expedition — and my share of the 
greenbacks. 



56 Terry^s Texas Rangers 

Toward the last of June the Federal army, hav- 
ing received reinforcements, including heavy ad- 
ditions to its cavalry force, began another for- 
ward movement. The Rangers were dismounted 
to skirmish with the advance. During this action 
a heavy rainstorm came up; we thought this 
would suspend the affair, but when the rain ceased 
we found the Yankees had advanced their lines 
considerably. Regarding this as a violation of 
the rules of the game, we mounted and rode off. 

Their cavalry now showed unusual spirit and 
audacity^ pressing us pretty close. On the 4th 
of July, at the site of the present University of 
the South, the Rangers had to charge and drive 
them back. The retreat was continued across the 
mountains and the Tennessee river to Chatta- 
nooga. 

The Rangers took position at Rome, Georgia. 
There we had a few weeks' needed rest and re- 
cruited our jaded horses. Roasting ears were in 
season, fruit was beginning to ripen, and so we 
feasted on good things. The runabouts — "pie 
rooters" we called them — made the best of their 
opportunities. Bill Arp said they found every 
road in the county, and then some. 

Dr. Bunting, our chaplain, started a series of 
meetings, and many embraced the opportunity to 



Terry^s Texas Eangers 



57 



pledge themselves to the better life. The boys, 
from their scant pay, contributed money to buy 
a. horse for General John A. Wharton. The pres- 
entation speech was made by John B. Eector, 
Wharton replying. Both speakers pledged the 
last drop of their blood, etc. Same old story, but 
a trifle stale by this time. 



CHAPTER IX. 

CHICKAMAUGA. 

Boseorans maneuvered Bragg out of Chatta- 
nooga. He now seemed to have a contempt for 
his adversary, and divided his army into three 
columns in an effon to bring ours to bay. One 
crossed the mountains and took position it 
Alpine, forty miles south of the center, eviden:ly 
to gain the rear of the Confederates. 

We were sent to look after this column. Lieu- 
tenant Baylor of the Rangers reported to Whar- 
ton that a heavy force of infantry was at Alpine. 
^Vha^ton reported this to Bragg with a note 
vouching for Baylors reliability. Bragg broke 
out: 

•*XJeutenant Baylor lies: there is no iafantry 
souxh of tisl*'* 

In a day or two. however, he became cmvinced 
that the rep«3rt was true, and made sone feeble 
^ort to attack them in detail Xothinf came of 
it exc-ept tiiat Boeecrans, who now discovered that 
his enemy was not retreating so precipitately, 
took the alarm and began to concentrate his 
widdy separated eoltimns. The force at Alpine 
had to cross the mountains. It took Uiem two 



Terry's Texas Eaxgees 59 

days to get to the center, now menaced bv the 
Confederates. Imagine Stonewall Jackson in 
Bragg's place I 

Of the larger events of the battle of Chicka- 
maiiga I shall treat very briefly. It has been 
Truthfully called the soldiers' battle. Whatsoever 
of strategy or generalship there had been had mis- 
carried and the two armies stood face to face for 
a trial of strength : a test of manhood. The num- 
bers were about equal, not far from TO^OOO on a 
side. The Feilerals had the advantage of posi- 
tion, which they had fortified. The Confederates 
had to attack. Xever was fiercer attack and de- 
fense. Never was shown greater courage. 

The enemy were driven from their works, but 
with frightful loss to the Confederates. Their 
killed numbered ?3S9. The wounded 13,412; 
while the Federals' loss in killed was 1656, 
wounded, 9"^ {^9. It was such dearly bought and 
fruitless victories as this which finally defeated 
the South. 

The Terr}' K angers were on the extreme left of 
the line and were ordered to drive the enemy from 
their front. This order was executed in handsome 
style. The enemy proved to be our old antag'.m- 
ists, the Third Ohio Cavalry. After the charge 
a messaire was broujjh to Lieutenant Dechard. of 



60 Terry's Texas Rangers 

the Rangers, that a wounded Federal officer wished 
to see him. He rode to the spot and dismounted. 
When he saw the wounded man, he said: 

'^^^Tiy, it's my old friend. Major Cupp. I am 
sorry to see you thus." 

"Lieutenant Colonel Cupp," replied the other, 
"but I've had my last promotion. You people 
have got me this time." 

More than a year before, these officers, each a 
lieutenant in command of an escort for a flag of 
truce, had met. They met again, a few weeks 
later, under the same circumstances, but Cupp 
was now a captain. After the fight in Bardstown 
Dechard was in command of the guard for the 
prisoners, and recognized his former acquaintance. 
"Captain Cupp, I am glad to see you," said he. 

"Major Cupp," corrected the prisoner, "but I 
can not say that I am glad to see you under the 
circumstances." 

As the cartel was still in force, he was soon ex- 
changed, and as we have seen when he fell, Dech- 
ard was near. These facts were related to me by 
Dechard himself, and he was known to be per- 
fectly reliable. These incidents confirm the old 
adage, "Truth is straiiger than fiction." 

The dying officer desired Dechard to take his 
watch and other belongings and send them to his 



Terry's Texas Rangers 61 

relatives in Ohio, which was done a few days 
later by flag of truce. 

Wheeler and Forrest followed the discomfited 
Federals up to Chattanooga. Here it was remem- 
bered that two detachments under Lieutenants 
Friend and Batchelor had been left on picket in 
gaps of the mountain away to the left of the bat- 
tlefield, and I was ordered to go to them at once 
and direct them to join the command, which 
would be found on the Athens road. 

There was about an hour of daylight, and I 
hoped to pass the ground of the terrible struggle 
before night, knowing that there was nothing for 
me or my horse until I did so. In this I was dis- 
appointed. Darkness came on shortly after I 
reached the scene of that awful carnage. Many 
of the Federal dead and wounded still lay where 
they had fallen. The air was freighted with a 
horrible odor, the battlefield's commentary on 
war. The wounded hearing my horse's footfalls, 
began calling me to give some assistance. Dis- 
mounting I picked my way to the first one. He 
desired to be turned over. Another wanted his 
canteen. The poor fellow had struggled while 
there was strength, and now unable to move fur- 
ther, was out of reach of his canteen. These were 
relieved and others not specially remembered here. 



62 Terry's Texas Rangers 

It seemed that himdreds were calling. I was ever 
a coward in the presence of sullering, besides duty 
required that I should proceed on my journey. 
So I asked : 

"Are you aware that your own surgeons with 
their details and ambulances are here uncon- 
trolled on the field?'' 

"Oh, yes," was the answer, "they come around 
every day and leave us water, a little food and 
medicine, but it is awful to lie here this way." 

I mounted and rode ofl', feeling sad at the fate 
of these men dying unattended hundreds of miles 
from home and loved ones, but I steeled my heart 
by the thought that if they had stayed at home 
with their loved ones they would not be thus 
dying. 

I was now lost. It was dark and my horse 
could not follow any road, for roads were every- 
wliere. Artillery wheels make many roads on a 
battlefield. After a while I sew a light and went 
to it. It was the camp fire of the details for the 
care of the wounded. These men sat around. 
The ambulances and mules were near. There 
was a little house, too. On the porch I saw some 
officers in uniform. Surgeons they were. I in- 
quired for some resident. A slender girl came to 



Terry's Texas Eangers 63 

the door and in reply to my request directed me 
to Lee and Gordon's mill. 

The moon was now rising. I was on that part 
of the field from which the dead and wounded 
had been removed, but there was wreck and ruin 
everywhere. Maimed and groaning horses, and 
no one to waste a load of ammunition to end their 
suffering; broken gun carriages, the debris of a 
battlefield. 

I crossed and watered my horse in the stream 
at the mill. As I rode up the hill I met two of 
my own company, who had been at the wagon 
camp cooking for the company. When they 
learned how far it was to the command and the 
horrors of the battlefield, they readily agreed to 
camp, for it was now late. So I had supper, for 
my comrades had sacks of bread and bacon, but 
my poor horse had nothing. We lay down and 
slept under the shining moon, although but a 
few miles away hundreds of human beings lay 
dying. 

On the morrow I proceeded on my journey. 
When 1 reached the first detachment under Lieu- 
tenant Friend and delivered my message, he 
kindly sent one of his men on to tell Batchelor: 
gave me some forage for my horse, and all gath- 
ered around anxious for news of the battle. Here 



64 Terry's Texas Rangers 

they had been in sound of the mighty struggle, 
the boom of the great guns, even the rattle of 
small arms, while their comrades were in dire 
peril, but denied the privilege of sharing in their 
danger or triumph. They had heard that the 
enemy had been driven from the field, but had 
heard nothing from their own command. They 
were hungry for news from the Rangers. What 
part they took, and who were killed or wounded? 
For they knew if the Rangers had been engaged 
somebody was hurt. 

These occurrences took place nearly forty-eight 
years ago, and yet their memor}^ is clear in my 
mind, and when I think of my lonely ride in 
Cliickamauga's gloomy woods, of the dead and 
dying, the wreck and min of that awful night, 
[ am convinced that there is no more expressive 
definition of war than General Sherman has given. 

When Batchelor^s squad came up we started to 
overtake the command, joining it on the follow- 
ing day, as well as I remember. It was then well 
on its way to the Federal nnir in middle Ten- 
nessee. 



CHAPTER X. 

wheeler's great raid. 

Our march was up the Holston river to find 
an unguarded ford^ but the pickets were every- 
where. We lialted in a field at night, and Com- 
pany D, armed with picks and spades, was 
directed to go to the river bank and there make 
a way for the artillery. A guide from the vicin- 
ity showed us a way across, by a ford unknown 
to the Yankees. We captured a few pickets. 

Wheeler now divided his forces, himself leading 
a column into Sequatcliie valley, where he cap- 
tured and burned 2000 wagons. He then over- 
took the remainder of the command as we de- 
scended the mountains. Our route was by Mc- 
Minnville and Murfreesboro, and the way was suf- 
ficiently familiar to us, since we had traveled it 
so often under Forrest the year before. 

When we reached the vicinity of Murfreesboro, 
Captain Kyle with his squadron, consisting of 
Companies D and F^ was ordered to ride around 
the place, reach the railroad leading to Nashville, 
and try to capture a train. We came to the rail- 
road a little before daylight, but there were no 
trains running; the enemy had learned that the 



66 Terry's Texas Eangers 

"rebels" were in the country. Captain Kyle heard 
of a lot of wagons down toward Nashville and 
decided to take them in. This he did without 
resistance. The teams had been engaged in haul- 
ing wood to the garrison at Nashville, and the 
wagons were drawn by oxen, the only instance of 
this kind that we saw during the war. The oxen 
being fat, and also too slow of foot to go with us 
in any other form, were converted into beef. 

We crossed over to Shelbyville pike, the scene 
of some of our operations in the spring. Learn- 
ing that a small force of cavalry held Shelbyville, 
General Wharton ordered the Eangers to attempt 
their capture. We saddled up early, and rode 
briskly, reaching there about daylight^ but the 
enemy had left. There were several stores in this 
place, established by some enterprising Yankees, 
and stocked with clothing and dry goods. Rather 
than have their doors broken down, the owners 
opened them. Winter was coming on, we were a 
long way from home and nearly naked, and here 
was our chance for winter supplies. Some of the 
boys got a black "Prince Albert" coat. This was 
presented to the chaplain, who wore it a long time. 

The line of march 'led by Farmington. Here 
the enemy had taken a strong position in a cedar 
thicket. Over the ground were scattered large 



Terry's Texas Eangers 67 

boulders. The enemy, arnied with Spencer 
rifles, were lying behind these stones. The 
Eangers Avere ordered to charge this position. 
We got np pretty close; in fact, into the 
edge of the thicket; but they poured such 
a destructive fire into us that it did not take us 
long to discover that we had more than we could 
handle. We took some prisoners. We also got 
some of these rifles, the first of the kind I had 
ever seen; they would shoot seven times without 
reloading. The casualties are not remembered, ex- 
cept that Major Christian and Lieutenant Black- 
burn were wounded. Love, of Company C, was 
killed. 

That night at headquarters they were discuss- 
ing the incidents of the day. Wharton said the 
Rangers had done all that any soldiers could do; 
that it was impossible for mounted troops to drive 
brave men, armed as were the enemy, from such 
a position. General Wheeler said they had done 
all that he expected ; had held the enemy engaged 
while our artillery and wagons ran by through a 
field, thus saving the command from a bad sit- 
uation. Then Colonel Harrison spoke: 

^'It was no fight at all ! I'm ashamed of them ! 
If they can not do better than that I'll disown 
them !" 



68 Terry's Texas Eangers 

A staff officer put in: 

"1 always thought that regiment somewhat 
overrated anyhow." 

This aroused '^old Tom/' who got up, shook 
his finger in the fellow's face and broke out furi- 
ously : 

'^Who tlie are you? There is not a man 

in that regiment who can not kick you all over 
this yard, sir !" 

As he strode off to his horse, he was heard to 
say: 

"By — I'll curse them all I want to; but I'll 
be if anj^body else shall do it in my pres- 
ence !" 

Moving on to the Tennessee river, we crossed 
that stream at one of the fords along the Mussel 
Shoals. From there, in a more leisurely manner, 
we went back to the army, still besieging the Fed- 
erals at Chattanooga. 



CHAPTEE XI. 

EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN. 

Bragg felt so sure that Eosecrans would be 
starved into surrender that he dispatched Long- 
street to Knoxville to take in the garrison sta- 
tioned there. Our division, commanded by Gen- 
eral Martin, was sent along with him. Longstreet 
laid siege to the place. We were transferred from 
one side of the river to the other, fording the 
freezing water at night. We had a little skirmish 
on College hill; details not remembered, except 
that Lieutenant Black was wounded. 

It was reported that the "loyal" people up the 
river were in the habit of loading small boats 
with provisions, setting them adrift to float down 
the river for the use of the garrison in Knox- 
ville, the boats being caught by a boom across the 
stream. Someone conceived the brilliant idea 
that if trees were cut down and rolled into the 
river above, they would float down and break the 
boom. Our regiment, placed temporarily under 
the command of somebody's staff officer anxious 
to distinguish himself, was detailed for this 
service. A worse selection could hardly have been 
made for the performance of such work. Prob- 



70 Terry's Texas Rangers 

ably not one man in twenty was possessed with 
any skill with the ax. Young men raised on the 
prairies, professional men, boys from the stores, 
sons of planters, w^io had slaves to do their chop- 
ping, composed this force of axmen. Nighty a 
very dark night at that, was the time selected for 
the exploit. A light drizzle was falling. Imagine 
anybody trying to cut clow^n trees under such cir- 
cumstances I The staff colonel in command 
stopped at a house where there was a blazing fire, 
dismounted, and took a comfortable seat. The 
regiment went up on the hillside and hacked away 
for hours. I believe some trees were actually 
felled, chopped into convenient lengths, and rolled 
into the stream and appeared to sink in the water. 
All suffered from the cold. It was such foolish 
services as this that tended to demoralize the Con- 
federate soldier and sap a man's courage and 
patriotism as nothing else will. There is some- 
thing inspiring in a charge, albeit there is danger, 
too, with comrades falling all around ; but spirited 
troops would choose a charge every time rather 
than such imbecile business as that midnight tree- 
cutting exploit. 

When the Confederate army was driven from 
Missionary Ridge, Longstreet was compelled to 
raise the siege of Knoxville. He retired to the 



Terry's Texas Rangers 71 

eastward, taking position on the East Tennessee 
and Virginia railroad, near Morristown, if I re- 
member correctly, the cavalry guarding his front. 

The cold was intense. The people, in sympathy 
with the enemy, furnished them with excellent 
guides to any exposed position of ours. Hence 
we had to be exceedingly vigilant. Imagine going 
on picket at 2 a. m. with temperature at zero or 
below; but the army must sleep, and the cavalry 
must guard the outposts. We had also numerous 
skirmishes, but I can not remember the details 
of them. 

A letter written by me to my parents dated 
January 4, 1864, enumerates six fights during 
November and December in which the regiment 
lost twenty-seven killed and wounded; one on the 
road to Cumberland Gap. This was early in 
November. We chased some cavalry several miles, 
taking a dozen or more prisoners and wounding 
a few without a single casualty on our side, unless 
someone's ears were frost bitten, for it was a very 
cold morning and a biting wind raged. 

We had three or four skirmishes near Mossy 
creek. In one of these, on December 26^ 1863, 
Captain G. W. Littlefield was badly wounded by 
a large fragment of a shell which lacerated his 
left hip for a space five or six inches by twelve 



72 Terry's Texas Eangers 

or thirteen. It looked like a mortal hurt. A 
strong constitution pulled him through, yet he 
was compelled to retire from the service, and even 
now (1911) suii'ers from the wound. 

On the 29th of December we were ordered to 
drive a force of the enemy who were dismounted 
and lying behind a large brick residence and the 
outbuildings. We had to break down the garden 
fence, wliich we did by forcing our horses against 
it. We drove them all right, took a few prisoners, 
but sustained serious losses ourselves. In Com- 
pany I), X. J. Allen was killed outright. Ei ch- 
ard Berger was shot through the face, losing the 
sight of one eye, and William Nicholson had a 
slight scalp woimd. There was another on the 
24th, near the same place, and one near Dan- 
dridge^ but I am unable to recall the incidents, 
although the letter referred to says that I par- 
ticipated in all of them. In all we sustained 
serious loss, and so far as I can see without any 
appreciable eifect on the campaign; but as For- 
rest said, "War means fight, and fight means kill." 
Besides our blood was up and life held cheaply. 

One little engagement, all one-sided, and as far 
as we were concerned, was more amusing than 
serious. Our brigade under Colonel Harrison, 
and an Alabama brigade commanded by General 



Terry's Texas Rangers 73 

John T. Morgan, so long a Senator from Ala- 
bama after the war, were out on separate roads 
which, however, came together some distance in 
the rear of our position. The Alabama brigade, 
attacked by the enemy, gave way. We were called 
back, and when we reached the junction of the 
roads the enemy was passing in hot pursuit. In 
columns of fours we took them in flank, killed a 
few, took several prisoners and scattered the re- 
mainder, for they were so completely surprised 
that they made no resistance. They were Brown- 
low's brigade of East Tennessee Cavalry and 
rather shabby soldiers. AVe had no casualties. 

The service was very arduous; besides the pick- 
eting alluded to above, foraging became very 
laborious. The country along the streams is 
quite fertile and produced abundantly of food 
for man and beast, but cavalry troops consume 
rapidly, and the valleys were soon exhausted. 
So we had to go away out into the mountains for 
supplies. Often wagons could not go the roads 
and we had to bring supplies on our horses over 
mountain trails for ten or fifteen miles. These 
expeditions were not without danger, for these 
rude mountaineers wer^ good shots, and lying in 
the woods, did not see their bread and meat taken 
with kind feelings. They sometimes fired on 



74 Terry's Texas Eangers 

these foraging parties, but at long range from 
mountain crag or other secure position, and I 
believe injured no one. 

As I am not relating these things in chronolog- 
ical order^ this will be a good place to set down 
the facts concerning the night alarm on the banks 
of Pigeon river. We were in camp for several 
days on the banks of this stream which, though 
small to be called a river, was yet rather deep at 
that place; though it could be forded, as will be 
seen. 

Across from our encampment, some two or 
three hundred yards from the banks, was a stately 
mansion, the home of a wealthy and refined fam- 
ily. I think the people's name was Smith, but I 
am not sure. The name will do anyhow. The 
head of the family, a general or colonel, was away 
from home, with the army no doubt. The family 
at the house consisted of the mother and three or 
four daughters, all charming ladies. They had 
secured a house guard to protect them from insult. 
Joe Eogers, being a little indisposed, was duly in- 
stalled as guard. This meant good times for Joe ; 
a bed to sleep in, three meals a day with plate, 
knife and fork, a stable for his black horse Nig, 
of which, by the way, he was very fond. 

It was not long before the society men of the 



Terry's Texas Eangers 75 

regiment acquired the habit of slipping out after 
evening roll call to enjoy a game of cards at Gen- 
eral Smith's. One night several of them, a lieu- 
tenant, a clerk of the quartermaster's department, 
and one or two others, crossed the river in a small 
skiff and were soon pleasantly engaged in the 
fascinating game of euchre with the young ladies. 
Suddenly there was a cry of "Halt ! Halt !" and 
pistol shots rang out on the night air. Out went 
the lights, and the visitors rushed for doors and 
windows J knocking over chairs, tables, and even 
the young women. They rushed to the river, 
plunged in and across, and made for their com- 
panies. The first alarm was plainly heard in the 
camp. Sharp orders to "saddle up" were given 
and repeated from company to compan}-, and the 
brigade was soon in line. Colonel Harrison sent 
Tom Gill and a small party to ascertain the cause 
of the row. Tom passed General Smith's, where 
all was dark, and went on to the picket stand. 
Pickets reported all quiet; no enemy had passed 
their post. Tom returned to the house, where he 
met Joe Rogers. It appeared that Joe had not 
run with the others at the first alarm. He had 
gone out the back way to look after Nig and his 
equipment. While getting these he heard voices, 
accompanied with laughter, and the voices seemed 



76 Terry's Texas Rangers 

somewhat familiar. Peeping around the house 
he soon ascertained that the alarm had been 
caused by three or four Rangers. He reported the 
cause of the disturbance to Gill and his scouting 
party, and Gill reported it to Colonel Harrison. 

"The old man" was furious at first^ for a false 
alarm in war is a serious matter and a grave 
offense. However, after some reflection, he con- 
cluded to drop the matter, as he thought the inci- 
dent would have a wholesome effect on the guilty 
parties. The men did not so easily let it drop. 
Frequently at night for some months afterwards 
someone would call out : 

"Who waded Pigeon?" 

From some other part of the camp the answer 
would come: 

"Murray ! Brownson !" 

The story got into the comic papers and caused 
some amusement and some mortification to the 
victims of the joke. John Haynie, one of the best 
soldiers in the regiment, was the leader of the 
alarmist jokers. If I ever learned the names of 
the others 1 have forgotten them. 

We had now been in the service for considerably 
over two years, and there had been no general 
system of furloughs. Our regiment might have 
fifteen if they would re-enlist, but as we had al- 



Terry's Texas Eangers 77 

ready enlisted for the war we could hardly per- 
form this condition. However, it was demanded 
that we make declaration of our intention to con- 
tinue in the service. Some of us considered this 
a reflection on our honor, and decided to do with- 
out the coveted furloughs. Then some of the boys 
got together, made a speech or two, passed a pre- 
amble and resolutions, declaring we would never — 
no never — quit as long as an armed foe trod our 
sacred soil. This was considered satisfactory at 
headquarters, and the furloughs were ordered. 
Lots were drawn for the three assigned to Com- 
pany D. These fell to D. S. Combs, I. V. Jones 
and J. F. McGuire, who left at once to visit their 
homes. 

At that time the enemy was at the mouth of 
the Rio Grande. They evidently intended to in- 
vade the country far enough to break up a most 
profitable trade between the States west of the 
Mississippi and the outside' world by way of 
Mexico. This traffic was carried on by means of 
wagons, hundreds of which went in a constant 
stream to the Eio Grande, loaded with cotton, 
and brought back supplies of all kinds. The 
people feared the enemy would penetrate the in- 
terior, as the State had been stripped of its de- 
fenders. Every persuasion was used to prevail 



78 Terry's Texas Eangers 

on these men to remain on this side, and they 
finally a^eed to stay. The lieutenant general 
commanding the department readily agreed to 
the arrangement, and thus Company D lost three 
good soldiers. We could not blame them, for, 
given the opportunity, every one of us perhaps 
would have done the same thing. 

It was during this winter that one of the sad- 
dest events of all our career happened; the hang- 
ing of E. S. Dodd by the enemy. He was a mem- 
ber of Company D. He was of a good family and 
well educated. For many years he kept a diary, 
setting down at night the happenings of the day. 
He was taken prisoner with this diary in his 
pocket. On that evidence alone he was con- 
demned and executed as a spy. 

Spring was now approaching. Those masters 
of the art of war — Grant and Sherman — were pre- 
paring to strike the final blows at the tottering 
Confederacy. Longstreet went to Virginia. Our 
cavalry went to Georgia to our old commander, 
General Joseph Wheeler. Our way was up the 
French Broad river, through western North Caro- 
lina and South Carolina, marching leisurely 
where there were abundant supplies. We reached 
Georgia as Sherman was preparing to move. On 
the 9th day of May, just north of Dalton, we 



Terry^s Texas Rangers 79 

were ordered to charge a force of the enemy, which 
proved to be our old acquaintance, La Grange's 
brigade of Indiana cavalry. We went at them in 
our usual style, at top speed, every fellow yelling 
as loud as he could. They broke and retreated 
precipitately. We took more than sixty prisoners, 
including the brigade commander. Colonel La 
Grange. His horse was wounded and fell, pin- 
ning his rider to the earth just at a large farm 
gate. John Haynie, quick as a flash, was at his 
side, securing the prisoner, evidently an officer. 
Addressing his captor, the prisoner said: 

^'You have a prize indeed. I am Colonel La 
Grange. I did not know that you boys had got 
clown here from East Tennessee. I knew you as 
soon as I saw you coming." 

With the help of some of the prisoners he was 
released from his fallen horse, mounted on an- 
other, and escorted by his captor to Colonel Har- 
rison. This incident came under my own ob- 
servation. For the interview which followed his 
presentation to Harrison I am indebted to that 
officer himself, who related it to me several years 
after the war. La Grange said : 

"I was in command of the brigade, and was 
anxious for the commission of brigadier general. 
Had some influential friends who were helping 



80 Terry's Texas Eangers 

me. My division commander told me to go out, 
run in the rebel pickets, skirmish a little and send 
in a report^ which he would forward with strong 
recommendations for my promotion. I came out, 
ran into the Texas Rangers, and am a prisoner/' 

*^^Only the fortune of war, my young friend," 
said Harrison. '^^Only the fortune of war." 

Our loss was quite heaYj. Among the killed 
were Charles T. Pelham of Company D, an edu- 
cated 3'oung man, of good family and fine prom- 
ise, a civil engineer by profession; D. F. Lily, a 
young lawyer J who fell almost in sight of his 
mother's home, and W. H. Bigelow, a native of 
Canada; both of these last were of Company G, 
and both educated o:ent]emen. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Sherman's wagon train and the affairs with 
mccook and stoneman, 

The enemy, over one hundred thousand strong, 
under one of the ablest commanders in the Fed- 
eral army, advanced on all the roads, overlapping 
the Confederates, who took position after posi- 
tion, to be turned by the superior numbers of 
their adversaries. 

At Kesaca there was quite a spirited engage- 
ment with a part of the advance. At Cassville 
we took position and offered battle, but retired 
before the flanking movement of the enemy. Near 
this place Wheeler turned their left and captured 
a train of wagons wathin a few miles of Sherman's 
army. The Rangers were not in this capture, 
but when the enemy sent a force of cavalry to 
retake his train, we met it in the most unique en- 
gagement of the war. Sherman's great army v/ith 
its hundreds of cannon, thousands of wagons and 
other vehicles had passed along, pulverizing the 
roads and fields into fine dust, which covered 
everything, in many places several inches deep. 
A single horseman riding along raised a cloud, 
a company or regiment, such a dense fog as to 



82 Terry's Texas Rangers 

obscure everything. We were in line on one side 
of a slight rise in the land. The cavalry of the 
enemy above mentioned were approaching on the 
other side of the hill. We were ordered forward, 
and at the top of this hill we met each other, 
enveloped in clouds of dust. We raised the usual 
yell, although in doing so we took in large quan- 
tities of Georgia real estate. We emptied our 
pistols into the dust, and the enemy broke. We 
did not pursue them very far; for we knew we 
were near their main army, and feared we might 
run into a brigade or two of infantry, as we 
could not see anything twenty feet away. Pre- 
vious encounters had given us a contempt for 
their cavalry and we did not hesitate to charge a 
whole brigade if need be; but we had a whole- 
some respect for large bodies of infantry. We 
took a few prisoners, but did not know, owing to 
the dust^ what other casualties were inflicted on 
them. We had seven wounded, including George 
Burke of Company D, who was shot in the 
shoulder. 

Wheeler was determined to save his train, so 
he tried to march all night, but a violent electri- 
cal storm came up, rain fell in torrents, and our 
progress was very slow, for the drivers of the 
teams could not see the road, except by the glare 



Terry's Texas Rangers 83 

of the lightning. After this had gone on for sev- 
eral hours, making scarcely so many miles, the 
command camped in column — I believe without 
orders. 

Wheeler dearly loved their wagon trains. I be- 
lieve it is safe to say that from the first to the 
last he captured as many wagons as he com- 
manded men. Thousands were burned, but other 
thousands were secured for the use of our army. 
The Northern contractors probably enjoyed this 
as much as Wheeler; no doubt they would 
have been glad to replace all the wagons, for a 
reasonable consideration. 

The retreat of the army continued to the very 
gates of Atlanta. Here the Rangers made another 
charge, in which Jesse Billingsly of Company D 
was killed. 

During the last week of July the enemy under- 
took to play our game, and simultaneously made 
two raids on our communications. One column 
under General McCook, with 3500 cavalry, turned 
our left. They crossed the Chattahoochie near 
Campbelltown, passed through Fayetteville, where 
they burned between fifty and one hundred 
wagons, and struck the Macon railroad near 
Jonesboro, twenty or twenty-five miles below At- 
lanta. As soon as intelligence of this movement 



84 Terry's Texas Eangers 

reached Wheeler he started for the raiders. We 
rode all night, coming up with them about day- 
light. They made very feeble resistance and we 
ran over them. It was now a chase of twenty 
miles to the Chattahoochie again. As this stream 
was not fordable, they made a stand to gain time 
for crossing the river^ which they were attempt- 
ing by means of boats. Our column was strung 
out for several miles, Harrison's brigade in front. 
We were dismounted and pushed into the thick 
woods. It was afternoon of tlie first day of 
August, and about as hot as such days ever get. 
The enemy made some resistance, but we drove 
tliem vsteadily some four or five liundred yards, 
when we heard firing in our rear where we liad 
left our horses. So we had to face about and 
fight our way back. We got mixed up with Ross' 
brigade, which had been dismounted as soon as 
it came up. After some three hours of this work, 
the enemy surrendered ; that is, all who harl not 
crossed the river. 

Wheeler reported 950 prisoners, 1200 horses and 
two pieces of artillery as the fruits of this en- 
gagement. There were many of their killed and 
wounded lying in the bushes. I have no informa- 
tion as to the number. Our regiment lost two 
killed and ten wounded, including one from Com- 



Terry's Texas E angers 85 

pany D. This was V. Catron, who was shot in 
the leg. 

The other column of the enemy^ led by Gen- 
eral Stoneman, turned our right flank and struck 
our communications lower down, near Macon. 
His force was reported to be 3000. General Iver- 
son of the Confederate cavalry attacked them and 
took 600 prisoners, including Stoneman himself, 
with two pieces of artillery. The remainder of 
their force in small detachments made their way 
back as best they could. Iverson did not have 
force enough to pursue them. 

General Shoupe of General Hood's staff re- 
corded in his diary, that the "First of August 
deserved to be marked with a white stone." These 
operations cost the enemy nearly half of the two 
raiding parties, and fully justified General Hood 
in saying that our cavalry were equal to twice 
their number of the enemy. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

wheeler's second raid into TENNESSEE. 

Wheeler was now ordered to operate on the long 
line of the enemy's communications. Finding the 
posts and bridges south of Chattanooga too 
strongly fortified to offer any promise of success- 
ful attack, Wheeler determined to go over into 
middle Tennessee again. He went up along the 
Holston above Knoxville, and then had to cross 
under a severe fire of the enemy's pickets. For 
this undertaking there was a call for volunteers. 
It looked as if the whole of the Rangers were vol- 
unteering, and Wheeler had to stop them. The 
fording was deep, but the enemy were easily 
driven from their position. A small force, not 
of the Rangers^ was sent down toward Knoxville. 
They met the enemy and were roughly handled; 
about half of them were taken prisoners, and the 
exultant enemy came on at a furious rate. Our 
regiment was formed in an open field. Colonel 
Harrison took position in front. We went for- 
ward in a walk at first, and then in a trot. The 
men were impatient. Officers kept saying: 

"Steady, men ! Keep back there !" 

Then we heard the popping of pistols, and all 



Terry's Texas Rangers 87 

eyes were turned on Harrison. The routed Con- 
federates came into view. Next the enemy in 
close pursuit. The men could now hardly be re- 
strained. Finally Harrison shouted : 

"Well, go then ! you, go !" 

The tap of the drum on the race track never 
sent jockeys and racers to the front more impet- 
uously than the Rangers went at the sound of 
these words. The enemy's force was small, and 
the}^ faced about at once. Their horses were 
nearly exhausted, and we soon overtook them, cap- 
turing nearly the whole party, which did not 
exceed two companies. 

Our march was now across the Cumberland 
mountains, by McMinnville, the familiar route 
we had traveled two years before under Forrest, 
and one year before under Wheeler. Just before 
reaching Murfreesboro we turned to the left and 
began to destroy the railroad leading to Chatta- 
nooga, over which Sherman's supplies had to be 
carried. We piled fence rails on the track and 
set them on fire. The heat caused the rails to 
expand and bend into all shapes^ rendering them 
useless until straightened out; of course the ties 
were burned also. In this way we destroyed some 
fifty miles of the road ; but the enemy had unlim- 
ited resources, and kept trains loaded with rail- 



88 Terry's Texas Rangers 

road material at Nashville and Louisville; these 
were rushed to the scene of our operations. With 
large forces working day and night they soon got 
the tracks in order. 

We now moved forward to the Mussel Shoals, 
where we were to cross the Tennessee river. In 
a little skirmish on the north side W. H. Caldwell 
of Company D was wounded in the hip. He was 
disabled for the remainder of the war by this 
hurt; never entirely recovered, in fact, walking 
with a limp for the rest of his life. 

After crossing the river the men of the Third 
Arkansas, who had shown courage and devotion 
on many fields, became greatly demoralized. Find- 
ing themselves nearer home than they had been 
for yearSj many of them deserted. One morning 
it was reported that twelve of these men had gone. 
A detail of twenty Rangers under Lieutena.nt 
Joiner, the whole under Captain Bass of the 
Third Arkansas, was sent after the deserters. I 
was one of this detail. Riding forty or fifty miles a 
day, we overtook four of them about twenty miles 
from the great Mississippi and made them pris- 
oners. On the return my horse was badly injured 
by falling through a broken plank in an old 
bridge, and I was left afoot. Joiner gave me 
orders to remain until my horse recovered, or 



Terry's Texas Rangers 89 

until I could procure another^ and then join some 
other command until I could get company over 
Sand mountain, as that region was infested with 
bushwhackers and murderers. It was some weeks 
before I could get a mount, for horses were very 
scarce, but this is not a narrative of my oper- 
ations. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

"the ROME RACES." 

I am indebted to Comrade A. B. Briscoe for a 
description of this incident. 

"General Harrison, our old colonel, was in com- 
mand of the forces composed of ours and Ashby's 
brigade of mounted infantry and a battery of four 
guns. For some reason, but contrary to all for- 
mer usages, our regiment was dismounted and 
placed near the battery, and Ashby's infantry kept 
mounted to protect the flanks and led horses. 
The fight had barely commenced when it was 
realized from the immense bodies of infantry in 
our front that it was a bad one. The battery was 
ordered to the rear, but just as they were lim- 
bered the Yankee cavalry poured in on our flanks 
and completely enveloped us. I did not give an 
order to run nor did I hear an order of any kind, 
but T soon found myself dodging through and 
among the Yankee cavalry, who were shouting to 
us to surrender. We reached our horses, which 
were not over 150 yards in the rear, mounted, and 
after a very hasty formation charged out through 
the enemy, and although we made repeated ral- 
lies they ran us back about five miles. Why the 



Terry's Texas E angers 91 

Yankees did not capture more of our men is a 
mystery, as outside of the battery we lost very 
few prisoners. To give an appropriate name to 
this battle we called it "Rome Races/' for such 
it was." 

In this race the colors furled around the staff 
and in the oilcloth were lost — not captured — as 
the subjoined letter shows: 

"Dallas, Texas, May 18, 1898. 

"Terry's Texas Rangers Association, Austin, 

Texas. 

"Gentlemen : I have been in Texas since 1890, 
and have frequently endeavored to find some mem- 
bers of Terry's Texas Rangers, and finally, by ac- 
cident, met with your comrade, H. W. Graber, 
and reported to him the finding of your flag the 
day after our engagement with your forces near 
Rome, Georgia. It happened in this way : I was 
directed by the general commanding to take two 
companies and move through the woods on the 
right of our line to a certain point where a coun- 
try road intersected the main river road then oc- 
cupied by our brigade. Just before coming into 
the main road I picked up a package or roll of 
something, threw it over my saddle^ and on my 
return to the main command examined the same 



92 Terry's Texas Eangers 

and found it to be the Terry's Rangers' flag in 
its case. It seemed to have slipped off the staff 
and been lost in that way. At the suggestion of 
your comrade — Grabcr — I have made a request on 
the authorities of the State of Indiana, who have 
had charge of it ever since, soon after its capture, 
and herewith enclose you a letter from Chas. E. 
Wilson, military secretary at Indianapolis, which 
seems to indicate there is no authority with the 
executive department of the State to return the 
flag, as it is in absolute control of the State Legis- 
lature, which is a matter of exceeding regret to 
me, as I should like to have returned the flag to 
you in time for your next reunion at Austin. I 
am furthermore able to assure you that this flag 
was never displayed in the streets of N"ashville, 
as has been reported, but remained in possession 
of our regiment until soon after it was found. We 
returned direct to Louisville, from which point 
it was sent by express direct to the State of In- 
diana. 

"In \dew of the existing unsettled condition of 
the country, I would suggest we let the matter 
rest until our country is again pacified and re- 
turned to its normal condition, when I will take 
pleasure in making a further effort to return this 
flag, which was not captured, but found, and I 



Terry's Texas Rangers 93 

consider, therefore, property should be returned 
to its owner. 

"With kind regards and best wishes, hoping to 
haA^e the pleasure of a personal meeting with your 
association, I am, with great respect, 
"Yours very truly^ 

"J. J. WiLER, 

"Maj. Com. 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry." 

This flag was returned to the survivors at 
Dallas in October, 1898. Its loss was very morti- 
fying to the Rangers, as it had been presented 
shortly before by the ladies of middle Tennessee. 

In Justice to the knightly "Count" Jones, I 
must say that no one could have taken the colors 
from him without taking his life. 

In this action fell Wm. Nicholson of Company 
D and Lieutenant Batchelor of Company C, and 
perhaps others, but I have no record of them. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 

Wheeler's cavalry was now almost the only ob- 
stacle to Sherman's great march to the sea. They 
harassed his columns front, flanks and rear, pick- 
ing up many pri.soners; but three or four thou- 
sand cavalry could make little resistance to the 
onward sweep of 60,000 veterans under one of the. 
greatest captains of modern times. Conflicts 
were of almost daily occurrence. The Rangers 
were engaged at Buckhead Church and Waynes- 
boro, Georgia. Again at Aiken, South Carolina. 
At Averysboro and Fayette ville, North Carolina, 
where, after a night's march, they surprised Kil- 
patrick's cavalry camp, but failed to bag that 
redoubtable leader. In all of these conflicts the 
losses were heavy. Old Company D lost in killed, 
John Gage, P. R. Kennedy, Dave Nunn, Sam 
Screws and Jim Wynne. Their list of wounded, 
too, was large. P. R. Kyle and Geo. T. McGehee, 
good ones both, were badly hurt at Aiken; Mc- 
Arthur^ Brannum and P. J. Watkins also. The 
other companies sustained heavy losses. Lieuten- 
ant Ileiskell of Company K was killed. I wish 
I could name them all. 



Tekry^s Texas Kangers 95 

In all of these actions, the remnant of nearly 
1?00 enlisments charged with that dauntless cour- 
age which had characterized them at Woodson- 
ville, at Bardstown, at Dalton and many other 
brilliant fields of arms. Their old colonel, now 
a brigadier general, Thomas Harrison; their 
colonel, the knightly Cook, and the staid and ever 
reliable Major Jarmon, were all stretched on beds, 
racked with the pains of severe wounds. The 
command now devolved on Captain Matthews, 
who but a little over a year before had been 
elected lieutenant, promoted to the rank of cap- 
tain by the bullets of the enemy which brought 
down his superiors, was now, at Bentonville, to lead 
the old regiment in the last charge, which will 
always rank as one of the most brilliant feats of 
arms in the history of wars. As I was not pres- 
ent I will let Lieutenant Briscoe tell of it, for 
he tells it well. 

the last charge. 

'^We did but little fighting the first day, as the 
enemy changed positions very rapidly. But the 
second we were engaged in some severe skirmishes 
all the forenoon, in one of which Major Jarmon, 
our only remaining field officer, was severely 



96 Terry's Texas Eangers 

wounded;, when we were withdrawn a few hundred 
yards to rest and give place for the infantry. 

"We had been in this position resting and eat- 
ing our rations probably over an hour^, when we 
heard the boom of artillery directly in our rea,r. 
Every man pricked up his ears, for we knew that 
it meant something serious. Captain Doc Mat- 
thews of Company K (my company) was in com- 
mand cf the regiment, which numbered about 100 
men. We were standing talking of the probable 
cause of the artillery fire in our rear when Gen- 
eral Wheeler galloped up and asked for the com- 
mander of the Eangers. He seemed a little ex- 
cited. His order was, ^Captain, mount your men, 
go as fast as you can and charge whatever you 
find at the bridge.' These were almost his exact 
words. In less time than it takes to tell it, we 
were mounted and racing to the rear. Within 
about half a mile of tlie bridge we passed a small 
brigade of infantry 'double quicking' in the same 
direction. We saluted each other with a cheer 
as we passed, for all felt that it was a critical 
time in the battle. As we came upon some rising 
ground we had a good view of the enemy across 
an open field about 500 yards distant. Here we 
halted an instant to close up the column, and for 



Terry's Texas Eangers 97 

Captain Matthews to salute General Hardee and 
staff, who wished to know what troops we were. 

"^Captain Matthews told hirn and of our orders 
from General Wheeler. He took a look across the 
field at the dense blue line and said^ *^Then execute 
your orders.' It looked like the old regiment was 
this time surely going to its grave. Everything 
was so plain and clear you could see the men 
handling their guns and hear their shouts of 
command. Without a moment's hesitation Cap- 
tain Matthews gave the order, 'Charge right in 
front/ and with that wonderful rebel yell we 
charged across the 500 yards of open field upon 
and among the mass of Yankees. We rode them 
down and emptied our pistols at close range. 
When the force of the charge was expended we 
fell back with about 200 prisoners." 

Like our other brilliant charges, it was the very 
audacity that brought success. 

In this charge fell, mortally wounded, Wm. J. 
Hardee, Jr., son of Lieutenant General Hardee. 
Nearly a year before he, with several other boys, 
had run away from school to join the Rangers, 
but on account of their extreme youth Colonel 
Harrison sent them back to school. The boy 
would not remain in school, so General Hardee 
kept him with him for several month, but he 



98 Terry's Texas Rangers 

fretted to join the Eangers. Finally the father 
consented. The boy was enlisted in Company D 
and fell in this, his first action. 

I reached the command shortly before the sur- 
render. The regiment in numbers was little more 
than a good company. Battle and disease had 
claimed and received their toll; but this little 
remnant seemed as full of courage and spirit as 
when first they left their State. 

The dream was over. General Lee, "yielding 
to overwhelming numbers and resources/' had 
laid down his arms. General Johnston, again in 
command of the Army of Tennessee, agreed 
v/ith Sherman to disband his army. Sadly the 
Rangers dispersed, taking the roads to their dis- 
tant homes. 

General Wheeler issued the following order, 
which for intense feeling and felicity of expres- 
sion is a gem : 

"Headquarters Cavalry Corps, 

"April 28, 1865. 

"Gallant Comrades: You have fought your 
fight. Your task is done. During a four years' 
struggle for liberty you have exhibited courage, 
fortitude and devotion. You are the victors of 
m.ore than 200 sternly contested fields. You have 



Terry's Texas Rangers 99 

participated in more tlian a thousand conflicts of 
arms. You are heroes ! Veterans ! Patriots ! 
The bones of your comrades mark battlefields 
upon the soil of Kentucky, Virginia, North Caro- 
lina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alamaba and Mis- 
sissippi. You have done all that human exertion 
could accomplish. In bidding you adieu, I de- 
sire to tender my thanks for your gallantry in 
battle, your fortitude under suifering and your 
devotion at all times to the holy cause you have 
done so much to maintain. I desire also to ex- 
press my gratitude for the kind feelings you have 
seen fit to extend toward myself, and to invoke 
upon you the blessing of our Heavenly Father, to 
whom we must always look in the hour of dis- 
tress. Brethren, in the cause of freedom, com- 
rades in arms, I bid you farewell. 

"Joseph Wheeler, 

"Major General. 
"Official : 

"Wm. E. Waites, 

"Assistant Adjutant General." 



CHAPTER XVI. 

CONCLUSION. 

I am well aware of the imperfections of this 
work. I can only say that I have tried to tell an 
unvarnished tale, to do no one injustice, nothing 
extenuate nor set down aught in malice. Beyond 
a few old letters which have escaped the ravages 
of mice, and such official reports as I could find, 
I have been compelled to rely on memory — frail 
and unreliable at best, more so after the lapse of 
half a century. I beg to remind those who may 
find fault that it is much easier to find fault than 
to do good work. No two persons see events 
exactly alike. This is illustrated in our courts 
every day. 

From the standpoint of the martinet our or- 
ganization could hardly be called a regiment. A 
distinguished lieutenant general is reported as 
saying that it was not a regiment at all but "a 
d — d armed mob." If there was ever any serious 
attempt to discipline it the effort was soon aban- 
doned. Yolimteers we began, volunteers we re- 
mained to the end. If any wished to evade duty, 
they found a way, and the punishment for evasion 
was light. To our credit it may be said that few 



Terry's Texas Eangers 101 

ever avoided a light. There were few real cowards 
among us, and they were simply objects of pity. 
If a man did not wish to go into a fight he held 
his horse until it was over. 

One reason of our almost uniform success was 
the superiority of our arms. It will be remem- 
bered that at the beginning the possession of a 
good pistol was a requisite for enlistment. If a 
man died or was killed his comrades kept his 
pistol. When a prisoner of the enemy's cavalry 
was taken this part of his outfit was added to 
the general stock, so that after a few months most, 
if not all^ had two weapons of this kind, and some 
even tried to carry three or four. No other regi- 
ment of the army was so supplied. 

Again, it was a noteworthy fact that the men 
were all good horsemen, accustomed to the use 
and management of horses from childhood. When 
three or four hundred of such men, charging as 
fast as their horses would go, yelling like Co- 
manches, each delivering twelve shots with great 
rapidity and reasonable accuracy, burst into the 
ranks of an enemy, the enemy generally gave way. 
It did not take us long to find this out; also the 
enemy were not slow to "catch on." 

If it be said that other commands lost more 
men in battle, the explanation is simple and easy. 



102 Terry's Texas Rangers 

The purpose of fighting is to destroy the enemy 
in battle; all drill, organization and hard marches 
are to this end — to kill and wound as many of 
the enemy as possible. If this is granted, the 
Rangers invite comparison with the best in any 
army. It is safe to claim that the regiment 
killed, wounded and captured a number of the 
enemy at least several times our highest enlist- 
ment of nearly 1200. If it be said that my claim 
for superiority is biased by prejudice in favor of 
my own regiment, I will give estimates of others. 

In a letter to me acknowledging an invitation to 
one of our reunions, General Wheeler said : 

''They were unceasingly vigilant, matchlessly 
brave and daring." 

General Thomas eJordan, an educated soldier, 
a writer of ability, chief of staff to General Beau- 
regard, was selected by Forrest and his principal 
officers to write a history of the campaigns of 
that great soldier. In a note on page 160 of his 
book, General Jordan says: 

"This regiment was raised and commanded by 
the lamented Colonel Terry, whose brief military 
career, beginning as a volunteer scout at the first 
Manassas, was full of distinction. He was killed 
at Woodsonville, Kentucky. The privates in- 
cluded a large number of the wealthiest and best 



Terry's Texas E angers 103 

educated young men of Texas, who, with many 
others specially trained in the business of stock 
raising on the vast prairies of that State, had ac- 
quired a marvelous skill in horsemanship. The 
career of this regiment has been one of the most 
brilliant in the annals of war/' 

Dr. John A. Weyeth, who also wi'ote a life of 
Forrest, says, "No braver men ever lived than 
the Texas dangers." 

General Hood ("Advance and Retreat," page 
202) writes of the cavalry: 

"I had, moreover, become convinced that our 
cavalry were able to successfully compete with 
double their numbers. The Confederacy pos- 
sessed, in my opinion, no body of cavalry superior 
to that which I found guarding the flanks of the 
Army of Tennessee when I assumed its direction." 

I now quote Federal authority. Writing of the 
comparative merits of the soldiers of the two 
armies, in a paper on the Kentucky campaign. 
General Buell, while denying the superiority of 
the Southern soldiers over the Northern, admits 
it was true of the cavalry. He says : 

"Another sectional distinction produced a more 
marked effect in the beginning of the war. The 
habits of the Southern people facilitated the for- 
mation of cavalry corps which were comparatively 



104 Terry's Texas Hangers 

efficient even without instruction ; and accordingly 
we .see Stuart, John Morgan and Forrest riding 
with impunity around the union armies, destroy- 
ing or harassing their communications. Late in 
the war that agency was reversed. The South 
was exhausted of horses, while the Northern cav- 
alry increased in numbers and efficiency, and ac- 
quired the audacity which had characterized the 
Southern.^' 

Eead that again. It comes very near saying 
that the South was overcome because the supply 
of horses failed. The waiter is an educated soldier 
and student of war. 

L'ENVOI. 

My task is done. My story is told. I have 
derived pleasure as well as pain and grief from 
the recital; pleasure in going back over the dreary 
waste of years to the morning of life, and dwell- 
ing in memory amid the scenes of my early man- 
liood ; pain that I can not do justice to all who, 
at the call of country, periled their young lives for 
home and the right; grief for the heroic dead, 
who sleep in unmarked graves wherever duty lead 
to danger and death. Their matchless courage 
and devotion earned undying fame. 



Terry's Texas Eangers 105 

"Their praise is hymned by loftier liarps tfian 

mine; 
Yet, one I would select from that proud throng'^ : 

Because he was my bedfellow, and I loved him 
as a brother; faithful in the discharge of every 
duty, clean, brave, and true^ — William N'icholson. 




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